Russia Plans Mock Nuclear Exercises

(NewsWorthy.news) – Russia has announced plans to carry out mock nuclear exercises following what Russia’s Defense Ministry has called “threats” and “provocative statements” by western officials.

The announcement came the day after President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration ceremony for his fifth term as president. This is the first time the Russian Federation has announced military exercises using tactical nuclear weapons, which may include artillery munitions, short-range missile warheads and air bombs. Strategic nuclear weapons are more powerful than tactical nuclear weapons, and use intercontinental long-range missile warheads. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described western provocation and perceived escalation as “unprecedented”, arguing it required the immediate attention of the Kremlin and “special measures”.

The governments of France and the U.K. in particular were blamed by the Kremlin for provoking Russia; French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to rule out putting boots on the ground in Ukraine if requested to by Kyiv, and the British Foreign Secretary David Cameron when meeting with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said the country had the right to use weapons provided by the U.K. to strike targets within Russia.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Lord Cameron’s comments contradicted previous assurances from Downing Street that long-range missiles sent to Kyiv would not be used on Russian soil. The Kremlin argued that the UK was now involved in the conflict based on Cameron’s “hostile outburst”. The Foreign Ministry added that the western officials were knowingly steering the situation towards open conflict between Russia and NATO states, and said it hoped the nuclear drills would calm down “hotheads” in the West.

U.K. Ambassador Nigel Casey was summoned and warned at a formal protest by Russia’s Foreign Ministry that Cameron’s comments admitted to Britain’s involvement in the war. Russian officials also warned Casey that in response to Cameron’s provocation, the Kremlin could target any U.K. military equipment and facilities either in Ukraine and abroad.

Tobias Billström, the Foreign Minister of Sweden, blamed Russia’s planned drills for fueling further instability. He called Russian actions reckless. Sweden has faced criticism too, however; after Sweden finalized its NATO membership and formally joined the alliance in March, the country’s pacifists groups slated the Swedish government for its “extremely dangerous” rhetoric suggesting impending war with Russia. Longtime peace campaigners heavily criticized the country’s decision to expand NATO’s borders.