Amid escalating tensions, Russia has begun the first stage of tactical nuclear weapons drills, involving Iskander and Kinzhal missiles.

The Russian Ministry of Defence disclosed that the exercises are to ensure that units and equipment are ready for “the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons to respond and unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state in response to provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials against the Russian Federation.”

According to the ministry, the first stage of the new drills envisioned “practical training in the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” including nuclear-capable Kinzhal and Iskander missiles.

It said that the drills involved practicing the loading of launch vehicles, driving to designated launch sites and loading planes with Kinzhal missiles.

The drills were taking place in its Southern Military District, which borders and includes parts of Ukraine that Moscow has occupied and illegally annexed since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

By conducting such exercises in the Southern Military District, which borders occupied parts of Ukraine, Moscow is not merely flexing its military muscle; it is sending a clear message of intimidation to both Ukraine and its Western allies.

By brandishing its nuclear arsenal, Moscow hopes to sow fear and division among the ranks of those who oppose its aggression.

Nuclear analysts say the exercises are designed as a warning signal by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to deter Ukraine’s Western allies, which have provided weapons and intelligence to Kyiv, from wading more deeply into the war.

It is designed to deter conventional invasion by NATO and long-range strikes into Russia.

Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron said he had not ruled out deploying troops to Ukraine under certain conditions, while the United Kingdom’s Foreign Minister, David Cameron, said that Kyiv had the right to fire Western missiles at Russian territory.

“The exercises are, obviously, a signal in response to discussion of NATO countries’ troops in Ukraine,” Nikolai Sokov, a former Soviet and Russian arms control official, divulged.

“The most important features are advance announcement and visibility,” he said.

He added that Western militaries will be watching the exercises closely and seeking to draw conclusions about how much warning time they would have if Russia deployed such weapons for real.

Also, Christopher Chivvis, Senior Fellow and Director of the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, opined, “Putin is reminding the world that Russia is a nuclear power and indicating that he might be willing to use nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine.”

“He is not saying that he is about to do so, but warning that there are some conditions under which he would do so. It seems unlikely Russia would use such weapons offensively to make gains on the battlefield. More likely, they would use them defensively in a situation where Russian forces were rapidly retreating and significant losses seemed probable.”
Christopher Chivvis

A Grave Mistake To Dismiss Russia’s Drills

It will be a grave mistake for the West to dismiss Putin’s sabre-rattling, as it is a signal being sent to them.

Nonetheless, the international community must not succumb to this intimidation. Instead, diplomatic channels must be kept open, and dialogue must prevail over threats of military escalation.

It must stand united in condemning Russia’s behavior and reaffirming its commitment to upholding peace and stability in Europe.

These developments underscore the urgent need for renewed efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

The suffering of the Ukrainian people cannot be ignored, and a lasting solution can only be achieved through diplomacy, not military posturing.

Now more than ever, unity and diplomacy are our best weapons against the specter of nuclear war.