Russia announced that it would hold military exercises involving troops near Ukraine to practice the potential use of battlefield nuclear weapons, escalating tensions with the West following comments from European leaders about increased Western intervention in the conflict. The exercises, aimed at increasing the readiness of nonstrategic nuclear forces, were ordered by President Vladimir Putin in response to perceived threats from the West regarding the Ukraine conflict. The Defense Ministry stated that the exercise would ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Russia.
The use of tactical nuclear weapons, designed for battlefield use with smaller warheads than strategic nuclear weapons, is a concerning development in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Despite previous denials from Putin about considering such action, the exercise represents a clear warning that Russia may resort to the use of tactical nuclear weapons. Western officials have long been worried about the deployment of these weapons, especially in the event of serious setbacks on the battlefield.
The military exercises will involve forces from the Southern Military District, which covers Russian-occupied Ukraine and part of the border region with Ukraine. The Defense Ministry emphasized that the exercises were a response to provocative statements and threats from Western officials, including comments from French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s top diplomat, David Cameron, regarding potential Western intervention in the conflict. Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, referred to the escalation of tensions as unprecedented and requiring special attention.
Pavel Podvig, a scholar on Russian nuclear forces, highlighted that while Russia has conducted similar exercises in the past, this time the goal is to send a clear message about Russia’s nuclear capabilities in response to specific statements from Western leaders. Nonstrategic nuclear weapons, unlike strategic ones, are stored separately and require deployment before use. The exercises are likely aimed at practicing how these weapons could be deployed, with the primary purpose being to send a signal rather than actual use in the war in Ukraine.
The announcement of the military exercises with nonstrategic nuclear forces came at a crucial time in Russia, as it coincided with Putin’s upcoming inauguration and the annual Victory Day celebration commemorating the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. The timing of the exercises and the extensive publicity surrounding Putin’s upcoming events suggest a deliberate and strategic move by Russia to assert its military capabilities and deter Western intervention in the Ukraine conflict. Despite the escalation of tensions, Putin has not publicly commented on the drills, and his fifth term as president is set to begin with his inauguration.
The use of tactical nuclear weapons in military exercises near Ukraine represents a significant escalation in Russia’s ongoing conflict with the West. The exercises are seen as a response to perceived threats from Western leaders regarding potential intervention in the Ukraine conflict. The use of nonstrategic nuclear forces in the exercises sends a clear message about Russia’s military capabilities and its willingness to use nuclear weapons in battlefield scenarios. The timing of the exercises, amidst Putin’s upcoming events, underscores Russia’s strategic messaging and its efforts to assert dominance in the region.
