Russia to Hold Drills on Tactical Nuclear Weapons in New Tensions With West

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Russia said connected Monday that it would clasp subject exercises with troops based adjacent Ukraine to signifier for the imaginable usage of battlefield atomic weapons, ratcheting up tensions with the West aft 2 European leaders raised the imaginable of much nonstop Western involution successful the war.

Such weapons, often referred to arsenic “tactical,” are designed for battlefield usage and person smaller warheads than the “strategic” atomic weapons meant to people cities. Russia’s Defense Ministry said that President Vladimir V. Putin had ordered an workout for missile, aviation and naval unit to “increase the readiness of nonstrategic atomic forces to transportation retired combat missions.”

Russian officials claimed the bid was successful effect to comments from the West astir the anticipation of much nonstop Western engagement successful the warfare successful Ukraine. And it came astatine the commencement of a week of extended publicity for the Russian leader, with his inauguration scheduled for Tuesday, followed connected Thursday by the yearly Victory Day celebration, which commemorates the Soviet decision of Nazi Germany successful 1945.

The announcement of the workout was Russia’s astir explicit informing successful its much than two-year-long penetration of Ukraine that it could usage tactical atomic weapons there.

Western officials person agelong disquieted that Russia could deploy specified weapons, particularly if it faced superior setbacks connected the battlefield. But Mr. Putin denied arsenic precocious arsenic March that helium had ever considered it, adjacent arsenic helium regularly reminds the satellite of Russia’s immense atomic arsenal arsenic a mode of keeping successful cheque the West’s subject enactment for Ukraine.

The Defense Ministry said the workout would beryllium held “to unconditionally guarantee the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian authorities successful effect to provocative statements and threats of idiosyncratic Western officials against the Russian Federation.”