Russian Defense Ministry announces start of third phase of non-strategic nuclear forces exercises

The statement read: “The third stage of the training process of non-strategic nuclear forces has begun, in accordance with the decision of the Russian President.”

He added: “During these exercises, the Russian Armed Forces will be trained in the military use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.”

“As part of this phase, personnel of missile formations in the Southern and Central Military Districts will carry out combat training tasks, receive special training ammunition to equip Iskander-M missile systems with, and secretly advance to designated sites in preparation for launch operations,” he continued.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported in early May that “on the instructions of the Supreme Commander of the Russian Armed Forces, in order to increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to carry out combat missions, the General Staff began preparations for an exercise with missile formations of the Southern Military District with the participation of aviation and naval forces.”

Putin confirmed in an interview with Rossiya Sevodnya news agency last March that Russia was ready to use nuclear weapons if the Russian state was threatened, noting at the same time that “there was absolutely no need to use tactical nuclear weapons during the special military operation.”

Source: Russian Ministry of Defense