Russia has announced plans to conduct military drills, including exercises involving the use of tactical nuclear weapons. This decision comes shortly after prominent European leaders expressed heightened military support for Ukraine.
According to the Kremlin, these drills, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, are a response to statements from Western and NATO countries regarding the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine, a nation invaded by Russia over two years ago. The Ministry of Defence stated that the exercises aim to enhance readiness to execute combat tasks following what they deem as "provocative statements and threats" from certain Western officials.
The drills will involve missile formations in the Southern Military District and naval forces, and are scheduled to take place in the near future. While Russia regularly conducts exercises involving its strategic nuclear forces, this marks the first public announcement of drills incorporating tactical nuclear weapons, which are typically smaller in yield compared to strategic nuclear weapons designed to inflict mass destruction.
This move escalates tensions, particularly following remarks from French President Emmanuel Macron about considering sending ground troops to Ukraine upon Kyiv's request, and subsequent comments from UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron suggesting the potential use of British weapons against Russian targets if Ukraine desires.
Russian officials have criticized these statements, labeling them as a "dangerous escalation trend." Moscow has long warned of the inevitability of conflict with NATO should European member states deploy troops to Ukraine.
Relations between Western powers, led by the United States, and Russia deteriorated following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, Russia has repeatedly highlighted nuclear risks, although US officials acknowledge these warnings while noting no observed change in Russia's nuclear stance.
Russia and the US possess the majority of the world's nuclear warheads, with China, France, and the United Kingdom also holding significant arsenals.
What defines a nuclear weapon as 'tactical'?
While lacking a universal definition, tactical nuclear weapons are generally characterized by their size, range, or intended use against limited targets.
Unlike strategic weapons designed to target an enemy's war-making capacity comprehensively, tactical weapons aim for more immediate military objectives to secure tactical advantages in battle. These weapons can be delivered via missiles, air-dropped bombs, or artillery shells, with shorter ranges compared to intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Tactical nuclear warheads offer military commanders flexibility on the battlefield. Ranging from fractions of a kiloton to around 50 kilotons in strength, they provide variable explosive power, with modern warheads allowing operators to specify yield. For context, the nuclear bomb that devastated Hiroshima was approximately 15 kilotons in strength, while a kiloton equals the explosive power of 1,000 tons of TNT.
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