Russia orders nuclear drills near Ukraine border
- 6 May, 12:44
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered conducting drills that will include practice for the use of nuclear weapons near Ukraine. The Kremlin announced the drills on Monday, saying that the upcoming military exercises were in response to statements by Western and NATO-member countries about sending troops into Ukraine.
"It's obvious we are talking about statements from Mr Macron and statements from British representatives," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked by reporters what had prompted the drills. Peskov added that "this is a completely new round of escalating tensions. It is unprecedented and requires special measures.”
Peskov also told Financial Times that Russia was preparing acts of sabotage across Europe was “not serious” and was “groundless”.
The military exercises will include preparation and deployment of nonstrategic nuclear weapons intended to “increase the readiness … to fulfill combat tasks” after “provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials”, the Russian Defence Ministry said.
Ukraine immediately responded to Russia’s plans to carry out nuclear weapons testing. “We do not see here anything new, except for the information effect and statements... Nuclear blackmail is a constant practice of Putin’s regime,” Ukraine’s military spy agency spokesperson Andriy Yusov told national TV.
