Vladimir Putin orders exercises of strategic nuclear deterrence forces

MOSCOW, Russia.- This Tuesday, the president of russia, Vladimir Putinordered the carrying out of exercises of the strategic nuclear deterrent forces in order to test the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles.

“We will train the actions of the commanders to control the use of nuclear weapons with launches of ballistic and cruise missiles,” Putin said during a statement broadcast on Russian television.

Increase in geopolitical tensions

Putin stressed that, “taking into account the increasing geopolitical tensions and the appearance of new external threats and risks“It is important to have modern strategic forces that are permanently ready for use in combat.”
He stressed that the nuclear triad – intercontinental missiles, atomic submarines and strategic aviation – continues to be a “reliable guarantor of the sovereignty and security of our country, which allows us to fulfill the tasks of strategic deterrence.”

In addition, he added, it also allows “to maintain nuclear parity and the balance of forces in the world as objective factors of global stability.”

At the same time, Putin assured that “Russia confirms its position of principle that the use of nuclear weapons is a extreme and extraordinary measure of security guarantee”.

The head of the Kremlin insisted that Moscow intends to continue perfecting all the components of its nuclear arsenal within the framework of the state rearmament program, for which it has enormously increased defense spending since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

This will include supplying strategic forces with new stationary and mobile missile systems that are much more accurate and also require less time to launch, he explained.

“And, what is very important, with greater possibilities of overcoming anti-missile defense systems,” he added, referring to the American shield.

However, he assured that, although Russia intends to strengthen its nuclear forces with modern weapons – currently this indicator is 94% -, it does not intend to become involved in a “new arms war” as happened to the Soviet Union.

Tactical nuclear maneuvers

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends an exercise by Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent forces to train officials on the operation of nuclear weapons, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, October 29, 2024 Credit: EFE/EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN

At the end of last July, Russia carried out jointly with Belarus tactical nuclear maneuvers with the use of Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

Recently, Putin announced the modification of the current nuclear doctrine after the West considered allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons against targets in Russian territory.

The new doctrine contemplates the use of nuclear weapons in the event of a conventional attack that threatens the sovereignty of Russia and Belarus.

Negotiations between Russia and the US are currently stalled for the signing of a new START, which expires in 2026 and is the last strategic disarmament treaty between both superpowers.

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