Russia said on Wednesday that soldiers and sailors from the Leningrad military district in the north of the country, which borders NATO members Norway, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, took part in exercises to deploy tactical nuclear weapons.
The measure expands the geography of Russian nuclear exercises, covering military districts along the entire European border, from the Arctic to the Black Sea.
President Vladimir Putin ordered the drills, announced last month, to take place in the southern military district on the border with Ukraine, after Russia interpreted signals from Western officials as permission for Ukraine to strike deeply into Russia with Western weapons.
“The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the missile unit of the Leningrad Military District is carrying out combat training exercises.”, it said.
Tasks included obtaining special ammunition for Iskander-M, equipping launch vehicles and moving covertly to designated launch area, it said.
Russia steps up tactical nuclear weapons training with Belarus
“Naval crews will train with simulated cruise missiles and warheads in designated patrol areas,” the ministry said.
A video released by the Russian Defense Ministry showed a mobile missile system being escorted to a field, as well as a rocket being loaded onto a warship.
Russia said on Tuesday it had begun a second stage of exercises to practice tactical nuclear weapons readiness alongside Belarusian troops.
Putin has stated that Russia will not use nuclear weapons to ensure victory in Ukraine, ruling out a European nuclear conflict.
But he also declared that he did not rule out changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, which sets out the conditions under which such weapons could be used. He had previously said that he saw no reason to change the doctrine.
Source: Lidia Kelly and Guy Faulconbridge | Notícias Agrícolas
