The drills come amid a spate of escalating comments from Moscow suggesting the war in Ukraine could turn nuclear.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has overseen drills by the country’s strategic nuclear forces, which included multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles, in a show of force amid heightened tensions with the West over the conflict in Ukraine.
Wednesday’s drills come amid a series of escalating comments from Moscow and Putin – who were watching the drills from a control room – suggesting the eight-month conflict in Ukraine could turn nuclear.
“A training session involving strategic ground, sea and air deterrent forces was held under the leadership of … Vladimir Putin, during which practical launches of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles took place,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Putin the exercise was intended to simulate a “massive nuclear strike” by Russia in retaliation for a nuclear attack on the country.
The maneuvers followed Putin’s warning of his willingness to use “all available means” to repel attacks on Russian territory, with a clear reference to the country’s nuclear arsenals.
Russian state media released footage of a submarine crew preparing to launch a Sineva ballistic missile from the Barents Sea in the Arctic.
A Yars land-launched intercontinental ballistic missile was tested from the northern Plesetsk launch site during Russian exercises on Wednesday.
The exercises also included the launch of test missiles from the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East.
The Russian Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine Tula is on its way to a practice launch of an ICBM [Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP Photo]
As part of the exercise, Tu-95 strategic bombers also launched cruise missiles at exercise targets.
The Kremlin said in a statement that all of the tasks set for the exercise were accomplished and all of the missiles tested achieved their set targets.
The Russian drills came as NATO held its own annual nuclear drills in north-west Europe, which will last until October 30.
The NATO exercises, dubbed Steadfast Noon, involve about 60 aircraft, including US long-range B-52 bombers and fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons but no live bombs.
Russian maneuvers involving land, sea and air components of the nuclear triad have been held annually to train the country’s nuclear forces and demonstrate their readiness. An earlier such exercise took place just days before Putin dispatched troops to Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration said Tuesday Russia has announced its intention to conduct routine exercises of its nuclear capabilities. The Pentagon and the US State Department said Russia has complied with the terms of the last US-Russia arms control agreement when briefing Washington on the upcoming tests.
Moscow accuses “irresponsible behavior”.
Footage of the drills in state media came after Shoigu pushed phone calls to his counterparts around the world claiming Ukraine was developing a “dirty bomb”.
A dirty bomb is a conventional bomb laced with radioactive, biological, or chemical materials that are dispersed when it explodes.
Shoigu, who has been making these claims to NATO-nation officials in recent days, also called his Chinese and Indian counterparts on Wednesday to discuss the claim, which Ukraine and its western allies have firmly denied.
Putin himself repeated the dirty bomb claim on Wednesday. “We know about plans to use the so-called dirty bomb for provocation,” he said.
Ukraine dismissed the allegations as “absurd” and “dangerous” and hinted that the claims could cover up Russia’s own plans on the battlefield, as well as its Western allies, including the UK, France and the US.