Vladimir Putin has overseen Russia's annual strategic nuclear forces exercises, the first such drill since the invasion of Ukraine in February. The Kremlin confirmed that ballistic and cruise missiles were launched from the Arctic to the Far East, with the United States notified in advance under the New Start arms treaty.
The drills come as Russia repeats unsubstantiated claims that Ukraine plans to use a 'dirty bomb' — an explosive device mixed with radioactive material. Western nations have widely dismissed these allegations, with Kyiv warning that Moscow itself may be preparing such an attack. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated the exercise aimed to practise a 'massive nuclear strike in retaliation for the enemy's nuclear strike'.
President Putin watched a video feed of the launches and reiterated baseless accusations against Ukraine, including that it had become a 'testing ground for military biological experiments' under US direction. The exercises coincide with NATO's own annual nuclear drills, Steadfast Noon, involving 14 countries over Belgium, the UK and the North Sea.
Russia's nuclear show of force occurs against a backdrop of military setbacks in southern and eastern Ukraine. Moscow has reinforced Kherson, a key city captured early in the war but now threatened by Ukrainian advances. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov expressed personal belief that Putin will not use nuclear weapons, while noting that rainy weather has hampered Ukraine's counter-offensive.
