Russia Signals 'New Stage' of Strategic Nuclear Drills

Russia has kick-started the third stage of its tactical nuclear weapons drills, which the Kremlin said was triggered by provocative statements and threats from Western countries supporting Ukraine.

"In accordance with the decision of the President of the Russian Federation, the third stage of the exercise of nonstrategic nuclear forces has begun," Russia's Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The drills were launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in May, with the first stage involving the "practical testing of the preparation and use of nonstrategic nuclear weapons" in the country's Southern Military District. The second stage began in June alongside Belarusian troops.

The third stage of Putin's drills is to involve Russia's Southern and Central Military Districts, and are aimed at "preparing units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation for the combat use of nonstrategic nuclear weapons," the ministry said.

"The Ministry of Defense announced the start of a new stage of nonstrategic nuclear exercises," Russian outlet RBC reported on Wednesday. Newsweek has contacted NATO via email.

Tensions have mounted between Russia and the West over Putin's ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine. On May 3, the Kremlin issued a response to remarks made by then-U.K. Foreign Minister David Cameron allowing Ukraine to use British weapons for strikes on Russian soil.

Moscow said the exercises were launched in response to "provocative statements and threats by some Western officials" against Russia.

Russian troops "will work out combat training tasks of obtaining special training ammunition for the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile systems, equipping launch vehicles with them and covertly moving to designated position areas to prepare for electronic launches," the defense ministry said.

Aviation units of Russia's Aerospace Forces are to also practice equipping aircraft weapons with special warheads and flying to designated patrol areas.

"The current stage of the exercise is aimed at maintaining the readiness of the personnel and equipment of the combat use units of Russia's nonstrategic nuclear weapons to perform combat missions," the ministry added.

Russia has warned that actions by the West could force it to amend its nuclear doctrine, which lays out the conditions under which it can use such weapons.

On June 7, Putin said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that his country's nuclear doctrine is "a living instrument" that can be changed.

Russia is "carefully watching what is happening in the world around us and do not exclude making some changes to this doctrine," Putin said.

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