Russia Launches Nuclear Missile Simulation in Attack Response
Amid escalating tensions with the West over Ukraine, Russia conducted a significant nuclear forces exercise on Tuesday, simulating a response to a first strike. President Vladimir Putin stated the need for modern strategic forces due to rising geopolitical threats but emphasized that Russia will not engage in a new arms race.
The drill featured ground-, sea-, and air-launched missiles. Key actions included the test-firing of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk launch site and ICBMs launched by the Novomoskovsk and Knyaz Oleg submarines in the Barents Sea and Sea of Okhotsk. Additionally, Tu-95 strategic bombers executed practice launches of long-range cruise missiles, all reaching their targets.
This exercise follows Moscow’s warnings about responding to Western support for longer-range missile capabilities for Ukraine. Putin’s announcement of a revised nuclear doctrine indicates that Russia views a conventional attack from a non-nuclear nation backed by a nuclear power as a joint attack, signaling a stern warning to the U.S. and its allies. He also noted that the new doctrine considers the potential use of nuclear weapons in response to significant air attacks.
