Russia has announced military exercises near Ukraine that will include deployment drills of tactical nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, six were reported killed in a drone strike on Russia’s Belgorod.

Russia said it will hold military exercises that include practice using tactical nuclear weapons after what the defense ministry called provocative threats from Western officials.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said the exercise was ordered by President Vladimir Putin and would test the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to carry out combat missions.

The exercise is aimed at ensuring Russia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty “in response to provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation,” the ministry said.

The military drills will include training for the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, the ministry said. 

No actual nuclear tests were reported to be planned.

“During the exercise, a set of measures will be carried out to practice the issues of preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” the military said.

Missile formations of the Southern Military District, which borders Ukraine, and the Navy will take part in the drills, it added.

Tactical nuclear weapons, also called non-strategic nuclear weapons, are designed to be used on a battlefield to destroy enemy targets without causing widespread destruction and radioactive fallout. Russia has the world’s largest nuclear arsenal.

Source: Dw