Russia Holding Nuclear Forces Drills Amid “Aggression Threat”

Russia is holding  drills on May 19-21 to practice  employing nuclear forces amid an aggression threat, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.

The drills will bring together over 64,000 personnel, more than 7,800 pieces of armament, military and special equipment, including over 200 missile launchers, more than 140 aircraft, 73 surface ships and 13 submarines, among them eight strategic missile-carrying submarine cruisers, according to the ministry’s data.

The drills are set to practice readying some of nuclear forces’ units for accomplishing assigned objectives and rendering them comprehensive logistical support, and also carrying out test-launches of ballistic and cruise missiles at practice ranges across Russia, it specified.

The drills have brought together the Strategic Missile Force, the Northern and Pacific Fleets, the long-range aviation military command and some forces of the Leningrad and Central Military Districts, the ministry said.

The drills aim to refine the skills of work of the commanding and operational staff, organize command and control of subordinate troops (forces) in the process of preparing and implementing measures of deterrence against a potential enemy; inspect the level of preparedness of military command centers, troops (forces) involved in accomplishing the tasks of preventing aggression;

Statement by Belarusian Defense Ministry

- The press office of the Belarusian Defense Ministry reported on May 18 that the republic had kicked off a military exercise for the combat use of nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons logistical support involving missile troops and the Air Force.

- Belarusian military units assigned with the combat use of nuclear weapons will also practice interoperability with Russia for the delivery of nuclear munitions during the exercise, it said.