Russia Announces More Tactical Nuclear Weapon Drills With Belarus

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the nuclear drills are ‘an adequate response to the West’s support’ for Ukraine’s forces.

A Russian RS-24 Yars mobile missile system at Alabino training ground in Russia is capable of launching large ICBMs as well as missiles fitted with low-yield tactical non-strategic nuclear warheads. Sergei Bobylev/Russian Defence Ministry Press Office/TASS

Russia and Belarus kicked off the second stage of nuclear force exercises, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state-run media that the nuclear drills are a response to what Russia claims are escalatory measures by the United States and NATO amid the Ukraine conflict.