Russia has announced plans to conduct a military exercise, including the practice of using tactical nuclear weapons, in response to perceived provocative threats from Western officials, Reuters reports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the exercise to test the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces. The drills will involve missile formations in the Southern Military District and naval forces. The move comes after Russian officials cited remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron about potential French intervention in Ukraine as extremely dangerous. Russia accuses the United States and its European allies of pushing the world towards confrontation by providing Ukraine with significant military support in its conflict against Russian forces.
Putin has resisted calls to change Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which dictates that Russia could use nuclear weapons in response to an attack using nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, or conventional weapons if it threatens the Russian state’s existence.
Putin has resisted calls to change Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which dictates that Russia could use nuclear weapons in response to an attack using nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction, or conventional weapons against Russia if it threatens the state’s existence.
