The Russian president, Vladimir PutinI affirm that “ there is nothing unusual“in the planned exercise to practice the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons. “This is planned work. A training“Putin justified.
The Kremlin said the drills are a response to “comments from the West” about sending troops to Ukraine. “They are talking about the readiness and even the intention to send armed contingents to Ukraine,” declared the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, who also added: “this is a completely new round of escalation of tensions. It is unprecedented and requires special measures”.
Russian army nuclear exercises
Russia plans to hold maneuvers that simulate the use of tactical nuclear weapons, as announced on Monday by the Ministry of Defence. “During the exercise, a series of measures will be taken to train in the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” the organization said in a statement published on Telegram.
The military exercises will include the participation of the aviationthe Marine and the forces of Southern Military Districtwhich is based very close to Ukraine and covers the Ukrainian regions whose annexation it claims the country led by Putin. It is the first time that Russia publicly announces the carrying out of this type of military exercises with the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
Asked about this practice, the Russian president stated that “there is nothing unusual“in a planned exercise to practice deploying such weaponry:”We celebrate them regularly. This time they are celebrated in three stages. In the second stage, Belarusian colleagues will join our joint actions,” Putin concluded.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry explicitly linked the planned nuclear exercise to the “provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation“. Days before, Emmanuel Macron, president of France, had assured that he did not rule out sending troops to the front of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Victory Day celebrations
This Thursday, May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day. During this day, the country celebrates and remembers the victory of the army of the ex-USSR versus the axis powers during the Second World War.
Russia’s annual May 9 Victory Day procession has long been a key event in the Putin’s calendar. The celebrations act as a perfect setting to achieve public support and display the military power of the country.
Russia parade.webp
AP
During the event, Putin gave a speech in which he assured that “Russia will do everything possible to not allow a global confrontation to begin“However, the Kremlin leader also stated that his country will not allow”Let no one threaten us, our strategic forces are always ready“.
The top Russian leader appeared at the event and inspected the traditional deployment of tanks and columns of troops that parade through the capital. Russian Defense Minister and Army General Sergei Shoigu said in a statement on Telegram that 9,000 people and 70 military equipment would participate in the main military parade on Red Square.
The inauguration, held this Tuesday in the Kremlin, was attended by Russia’s top military and political leaders, but the United States and many European nations refused to send a representative after dismiss the Russian elections as not very transparent. The day of events paid tribute to the 27 million people who died in the Soviet Union in World War II, more than in any other country.
Source: Ambito
