MOSCOW, May 21 (Reuters) – Russia sent nuclear munitions to field facilities in Belarus on Thursday and displayed some of its strategic nuclear forces, as tensions with European NATO members increased over the war in Ukraine and drone activity in the Baltics.
Moscow is carrying out one of its largest nuclear exercises in recent years, involving 64,000 people. The aim is to train its forces ‘in the preparation and use of nuclear forces in the event of aggression’.
As part of the exercise, Russia displayed a Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, an Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft, a MiG-31 armed with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles.
‘As part of the exercise of nuclear forces, nuclear munitions were delivered to the field storage facilities of the missile brigade’s position area in the Republic of Belarus,’ the Russian Ministry of Defense said.
The exercise involves the Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern and Pacific fleets, long-range aviation and units from the Leningrad and Central military districts.
A missile unit in Belarus is training to receive special ammunition for the Iskander-M mobile tactical missile system, including loading ammunition into launch vehicles, Russia said.
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Russian nuclear exercises typically use dummy warheads. One video released by the Ministry of Defense showed a tarpaulin-covered military truck traveling in minimal security, while others showed nuclear submarines, aircraft and warships.
The three-day exercise, which began Tuesday across Russia and Belarus, comes as Moscow says it is locked in an existential struggle with the West over Ukraine.
Throughout the war, President Vladimir Putin has been recalling Russia’s nuclear power as a warning to the West not to go too far in its support for Kiev. Ukraine and some Western leaders dismissed these actions as irresponsible braggadocio.
ESCALATING TENSIONS IN THE BALTIC
Moscow accused the Baltic states of allowing Ukraine to fly over their territory to attack northern Russia, an accusation NATO denied.
The Baltic countries, strong supporters of Ukraine, claim that Russia is redirecting Ukrainian drones into their airspace.
The Kremlin on Wednesday criticized comments from Lithuania’s top diplomat, saying they are ‘bordering on insanity’, after Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said NATO needed to show Moscow it was capable of penetrating the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
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The city of Kaliningrad is located between Lithuania and Poland — NATO members on the Baltic coast. Kaliningrad has a population of around one million and is heavily militarized, serving as the headquarters of Russia’s Baltic Fleet.
