Russia has announced plans to conduct drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, as stated by the Defense Ministry on Monday. This decision follows strong reactions from the Kremlin to comments made by senior Western officials about the conflict in Ukraine, with warnings of escalating tensions with the West.
The drills are said to be a response to what Russia perceives as "provocative statements and threats" from certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry. This marks the first public announcement of drills involving tactical nuclear weapons by Russia, although its strategic nuclear forces regularly conduct exercises.
Tactical nuclear weapons, including air bombs, warheads for short-range missiles, and artillery munitions, are designed for battlefield use and are less powerful than the warheads used in intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Russian announcement is seen as a warning to Ukraine's Western allies against deepening their involvement in the conflict, which has been ongoing for more than two years.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently stated that he does not rule out sending troops to Ukraine, while U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron mentioned that Kyiv's forces could use British long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia. These statements have been branded as dangerous by the Kremlin, further heightening tensions between Russia and NATO.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Macron's comments, along with those made by British and U.S. officials, prompted the decision to conduct the nuclear drills. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia's Security Council, warned that such comments risk pushing the world toward a "global catastrophe."
This is not the first time that Europe's military support for Ukraine has angered Russian authorities. In response to the U.K. government's decision last year to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing shells containing depleted uranium, Putin announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
The drills, intended to "increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces," will involve missile units of the Southern Military District, along with the air force and navy, according to the ministry. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones reportedly hit two vehicles in Russia's Belgorod region, killing six people and injuring 35 others.
The ongoing conflict has placed significant strain on relations between Moscow and the West, with NATO countries accusing Russia of threatening a wider war through provocative acts. However, Peskov dismissed these claims as "unfounded accusations."
As the conflict continues, Ukraine's army has used its long-range firepower to hit targets deep inside Russia, aiming to disrupt Russia's war logistics system. The Belgorod region, a staging ground for Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has come under regular attack since Russian forces retreated there from northeastern Ukraine.
Russia has also continued its bombardment of Ukraine's power grid, with a recent drone attack targeting energy infrastructure in the Sumy region. Multiple towns and villages lost power as a result of the attack, which was carried out with 13 drones, 12 of which were intercepted by Ukraine's air force.