Vladimir Putin has initiated exercises that simulate the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, closely following the Kremlin's sharp reaction to remarks made by Emmanuel Macron and David Cameron regarding the Ukraine conflict.
The drills are a direct response to what the defense ministry labels as "provocative statements and threats made by certain Western officials concerning the Russian Federation."
This marks the first occasion where Russia has openly declared exercises involving tactical nuclear weapons, although its strategic nuclear forces routinely engage in maneuvers.
Tactical nuclear weapons possess a smaller yield compared to the massive warheads found on intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to devastate entire cities.
The announcement seems to serve as a cautionary message to Ukraine's Western supporters against deeper involvement in the ongoing two-year-plus conflict. Some of Ukraine's Western allies have previously voiced apprehension about exacerbating the conflict, fearing its escalation into a broader confrontation between NATO and Russia.
Emmanuel Macron hinted at the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine, while Lord Cameron, the British Foreign Secretary, mentioned Kyiv's potential use of British long-range weapons to target sites within Russia.
The Kremlin has labeled such remarks as perilous, further escalating tensions between Russia and NATO.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, singled out statements from Macron and British representatives as the catalyst for the drills, characterizing the situation as a novel phase of escalating tensions requiring unique measures.
Tactical nuclear weapons encompass various armaments such as air bombs, warheads for short-range missiles, and artillery munitions, designed for deployment on the battlefield.
According to the ministry, the exercise aims to "enhance the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to carry out combat duties" and has been ordered by Putin himself. The maneuvers will involve missile units from the Southern Military District, in conjunction with the air force and navy.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones targeted two vehicles in Russia's Belgorod region, resulting in six fatalities and 35 injuries, including two children, according to local authorities. This region has frequently been struck by Kyiv's forces in recent months.
One of the vehicles hit was a minibus transporting farm workers, as reported by Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Belgorod governor.
Additional details are currently unavailable, and the report from the border region cannot be independently verified.
Despite Ukraine's army being largely confined to the 1,000-kilometer front line due to shortages of troops and ammunition after more than two years of conflict, it has utilized its long-range firepower to target locations deep within Russia. The objective appears to disrupt Russia's logistical system for the war by targeting oil refineries and depots and to unsettle border regions of Russia.
The Belgorod region served as a staging area for Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, it has been under constant attack, following Russian forces' retreat from northeastern Ukraine early in the conflict after a counter-offensive by Kyiv.
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