The Russian military has initiated a third round of drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, as part of a strategic move by the Kremlin to influence Western support for Ukraine. The exercises, announced by the Russian Defense Ministry, will see units from the central and southern military districts engaging in maneuvers with Iskander short-range missiles.
During the drills, troops will simulate the process of receiving nuclear weapons from storage facilities and deploying them to designated launch sites. Additionally, air force units will participate by arming their warplanes with nuclear weapons and conducting patrol flights as part of the exercise.
Tactical nuclear weapons, which include bombs, warheads for short-range missiles, and artillery munitions, are designed for battlefield use and are of lower yield compared to strategic weapons used in long-range attacks.
This marks the third set of drills following similar exercises held in May and June, with the latter conducted jointly with Belarus, a close ally of Russia. Last year, Russia positioned some tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which shares borders with Ukraine and NATO members.
President Vladimir Putin and Russian officials have been vocal about the country's nuclear capabilities as a deterrent against increased Western support for Ukraine. The drills are portrayed as a response to perceived threats from NATO allies discussing potential strikes on Russian territory and the deployment of troops to Ukraine.
Despite recent military successes in Ukraine, Putin has stated that Russia can achieve its objectives without resorting to nuclear weapons. However, he reiterated that such weapons could be used in defense of Russia's territorial integrity, in accordance with the country's nuclear doctrine.
There have been calls from Russian hawks to revise the nuclear doctrine to allow for a lower threshold for nuclear weapon use, with Putin acknowledging the possibility of modifications based on evolving global circumstances.