Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the launch of a large-scale exercise of the Russian Strategic Nuclear Deterrent Force, during which ballistic and cruise missiles will be tested. This decision is aimed at demonstrating military power and is a direct signal in the context of growing tensions between Russia and the West, Reuters reports.
“We are practicing command actions to control the use of nuclear weapons with the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles,” Putin said in a speech broadcast on Russian state television. The Kremlin leader stressed that “in the face of growing geopolitical risks and new external threats” it is critical to have strategic forces ready for operational use.
Putin also reiterated the importance of Russia’s nuclear “triad” – land-launched missiles, submarines and strategic aviation – which he called “a reliable guarantor of the country’s sovereignty and security”. He stressed that nuclear weapons should remain an “extraordinary means of ensuring security” and would not be used unless absolutely necessary.
The Russian president said that the country will continue to modernise its nuclear arsenal, aimed at improving all components of missile systems, including new mobile systems that can bypass missile defence systems. According to Putin, this is especially important against the backdrop of the deployment of the US missile defence system in Europe.
At the same time, Putin assured that Russia does not intend to get involved in a new arms race, unlike the situation in Soviet times, when the USSR was involved in such a race with the United States, which depleted its economic resources.
The drills and revision of Russia’s nuclear doctrine come amid Ukraine’s calls for Western allies to allow it to use long-range missiles to strike Russian targets. Under the updated doctrine, Putin stressed that Russia could respond with a nuclear strike even to large-scale unconventional attacks, such as missile or drone strikes on the territory of Russia or its allies, including Belarus.
These exercises and the revision of military doctrine indicate Russia’s readiness to act more forcefully in defence of its own interests, and send a direct message to the West and Ukraine as the war continues and global tensions rise.
