MOSCOW, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted a large-scale nuclear drill on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, simulating a retaliatory nuclear strike and showcasing Russia’s nuclear capabilities.
The exercises come amid rising geopolitical tension between Moscow and the West over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In a video call with top military officials, Putin confirmed that the drill involved test launches of ballistic and cruise missiles, intended to simulate the use of nuclear weapons by Russia’s leadership in response to an enemy attack.
Defense Minister Andrei Belousov outlined that the exercise aimed to practice the “strategic offensive forces launching a massive nuclear strike in response to a nuclear strike by the enemy.”
Putin, who has previously warned of using nuclear weapons to deter increased Western support for Ukraine, emphasised the role of nuclear arms as a “reliable guarantor of the country’s sovereignty and security.”
He underscored the need for modern, combat-ready strategic forces given the “growing geopolitical tensions and emerging threats,” and reiterated that nuclear weapons would only be used as a “last-resort measure” for Russia’s defense.
As part of the drill, the Russian military launched a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, which successfully struck its target at the Kura testing range in Kamchatka.
The exercise also saw nuclear-capable Tu-95 bombers launch long-range cruise missiles, while the nuclear submarines Novomoskovsk and Knyaz Oleg tested intercontinental ballistic missiles in the Barents and Okhotsk seas.
According to the defense ministry, each missile hit its designated target, demonstrating the readiness of Russia’s nuclear forces.
The drill follows a series of nuclear exercises by Russia and its ally Belarus, which has hosted Russian tactical nuclear weapons as part of their joint military cooperation.
