Overview
- Russia has launched multi-day drills the Defense Ministry says involve more than 65,000 personnel and over 200 missile launchers to practice nuclear-force preparations and launches on Russian test ranges.
- The exercises include the Strategic Rocket Forces, Northern and Pacific Fleets, strategic aviation and units from the Leningrad and Central military districts rehearsing ballistic and cruise missile operations.
- Belarus is running parallel missile and aviation drills that its defense ministry says include training on the use of nuclear weapons in close cooperation with Russian forces.
- Moscow and Minsk insist the maneuvers are defensive and not aimed at third countries, but the scale and joint posture follow last year’s security pact and prior Russian placement of tactical nuclear arms in Belarus.
- The drills raise regional tension by testing integrated command, missile and aviation capabilities and could prompt closer monitoring by neighboring states and NATO for changes in force posture or further deployments.