Russia to Practice Tactical Nuclear Weapon Deployment Amid Tensions with West

Russia announced on Monday that it would conduct military exercises to practice the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, a move that comes amid escalating tensions with the West over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said the exercises were ordered by President Vladimir Putin in response to what Moscow deemed as "provocative statements and threats" from certain Western officials against Russia.

"During the exercise, a set of measures will be carried out to practice the issues of preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons," the ministry said, adding that missile forces, aviation, and the navy would be involved.

The announcement comes as Russia has repeatedly warned of rising nuclear risks since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While the United States has said it takes such warnings seriously, U.S. officials maintain they have seen no change in Russia's nuclear posture.

Russia has accused the United States and its European allies of pushing the world to the brink of confrontation between nuclear powers by providing Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons, some of which are being used against Russian territory.

The Kremlin specifically cited remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron, British officials, and a representative of the U.S. Senate as the catalyst for the planned exercises.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Western statements about sending NATO soldiers to Ukraine amounted to "an unprecedented escalation of tension" that required "special attention and special measures."

Russia and the United States possess the world's largest nuclear arsenals, holding more than 10,600 of the estimated 12,100 global nuclear warheads. While Russia has about 1,558 non-strategic nuclear warheads, according to estimates, there is uncertainty about exact figures due to a lack of transparency.

No country has used nuclear weapons in warfare since the United States' atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

The planned exercises come as tensions between Russia and the West remain high over the conflict in Ukraine. While some Western officials have dismissed Russia's nuclear threats as bluffing, the Kremlin has repeatedly indicated its willingness to break the nuclear taboo if Russia's existence is threatened.