What are tactical nuclear weapons and why did Russia order drills?

Monday's announcement from Russia's Defense Ministry unveiled plans for military exercises featuring tactical nuclear weapons, marking the first time such maneuvers have been publicly disclosed by Moscow. Delving into the realm of tactical nuclear armaments offers insight into their role within the Kremlin's political discourse.

Tactical nuclear weapons, distinct from their intercontinental counterparts designed to level entire cities, are tailored for battlefield engagements, boasting yields as modest as approximately 1 kiloton. To put this in perspective, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II yielded 15 kilotons.

These battlefield-ready nuclear arms encompass a variety of forms, including aerial bombs, short-range missile warheads, or artillery munitions. Their compact nature facilitates discreet transportation via truck or aircraft.

In contrast to strategic weaponry, which has been subject to bilateral arms control agreements between Moscow and Washington, tactical arms have evaded such limitations. Russia has withheld specifics regarding their quantity or other related details.

In the wake of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently underscored Moscow's nuclear capabilities, aiming to dissuade Western nations from escalating military support to Kyiv.

While Putin initially emphasized Moscow's nuclear arsenal, pledging to employ "all means" to safeguard Russia, his rhetoric moderated as Ukraine's summer offensive faltered and Russia achieved battlefield successes.

Moscow's defense doctrine outlines a nuclear response to atomic aggression or even conventional attacks posing an existential threat to Russia. The ambiguous wording has prompted some Kremlin-aligned experts to urge Putin to sharpen the language, compelling the West to heed the warnings more seriously.

However, Putin has dismissed calls for such adjustments, asserting that no circumstance imperils Russian statehood or existence, a sentiment he reiterated last fall.

Russia's decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, an ally bordering Ukraine and NATO members Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania, garnered attention. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had long advocated for such a move, citing close military ties with Russia and the strategic role his country played in the Ukrainian conflict.

Both Putin and Lukashenko framed the deployment as a response to perceived Western threats, with Putin specifically linking it to the U.K. government's decision to supply Ukraine with armor-piercing shells containing depleted uranium.

Although the exact number of deployed weapons remains undisclosed, preparations were made in Soviet-era facilities within Belarus, and local personnel underwent training. The weapons remain under Russian military control.

This strategic placement enhances Russia's capacity to swiftly target potential adversaries in Ukraine and extends its reach to several NATO allies in Eastern and Central Europe, underscoring the geopolitical significance of tactical nuclear weapons in regional dynamics.