Russia test-fires missiles to simulate 'massive' response to nuclear first strike
Russia on Tuesday held nuclear drills that involved firing missiles from the ground, sea and air, the defence ministry said. President Putin, who recently approved changes to rules on the use of nuclear weapons, had multiple times alluded to resorting to using such force since the start of Russia's war with Ukraine 2-1/2 years ago.
Russia test-fired missiles over distances of thousands of miles on Tuesday to simulate a "massive" nuclear response to an enemy first strike.
"Given the growing geopolitical tensions and the emergence of new external threats and risks, it is important to have modern and constantly ready-to-use strategic forces," President Vladimir Putin said as he announced the exercise.
It took place at a critical moment in the Russia-Ukraine war, after weeks of Russian signals to the West that Moscow will respond if the United States and its allies allow Kyiv to fire longer-range missiles deep into Russia.
On Monday NATO said that North Korea has sent troops to western Russia, something Moscow has not denied.
In televised comments, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov told Putin that the purpose of the drill was to practise delivering "a massive nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces in response to a nuclear strike by the enemy".
(Reuters)
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