Russia's army on Tuesday began three days of nuclear weapons drills involving thousands of troops across the country, as Kyiv escalates its drone attacks and with President Vladimir Putin headed to China.
Throughout its more than four-year offensive in Ukraine Moscow has flaunted its possession of nuclear weapons and repeatedly threatened to use them.
The drills also come months after the last nuclear arms pact between Russia and Washington broke down and amid a fresh spate of comments from Putin touting the prowess of Moscow's atomic forces.
"From May 19 to 21, 2026, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are conducting an exercise on the preparation and use of nuclear forces in the event of a threat of aggression," the defense ministry said.
The ending of the New START agreement with Washington in February formally released the world's two largest nuclear powers from a raft of restrictions.
The drills will involve more than 65,000 troops and 7,800 types of equipment and weapons, including more than 200 missile launchers, the defense ministry said. Aircraft, ships, submarines and nuclear submarines will all take part.
The ministry said it would also test-launch ballistic and cruise missiles.
"The exercise will also address issues related to the joint training and use of nuclear weapons deployed on the territory of the Republic of Belarus," the ministry added.
Russia has deployed a nuclear-capable missile, the Oreshnik, to its ally Belarus, which borders NATO.
Moscow announced the start of the drills hours before Putin was due in China for a two-day visit.
