The exercises will involve the air force, navy and troops of Russia’s southern military district, located in the immediate vicinity of Ukraine.

Details of when and where the exercises will take place were not specified, but according to the Ministry of Defence, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered nuclear manoeuvres to be held in the near future, involving troops stationed near Ukraine. Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has oscillated between ambiguous positions on the potential use of nuclear weapons.

These exercises are presented as a measure to maintain the Russian army’s readiness to defend the country, in response to provocative statements and threats made against Russia by certain Western leaders. According to Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, these statements have been made by French President Macron, British representatives and a member of the US Senate, among others.

The Russian Defence Ministry said a series of measures would be taken to train in the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, also known as tactical nuclear weapons, which are designed for use on the battlefield and can be launched by missiles. The exercises will involve the air force, navy and forces of the Southern Military District, which is located close to Ukraine and includes regions such as Russia, Ukraine and Ukraine.