7 months ago
23
Russia
said Monday it plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons amid rising tensions following comments by senior
Western officials
about the possibility of deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine. The announcement came on the eve of Russian Prez Vladimir Putin's inauguration to a fifth term in office.
The drills are a response to "provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation," the defence ministry said in a statement.
It was the first time Russia has publicly announced drills involving
tactical nuclear weapons
, although its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exercises.
The Russian announcement was a warning to Ukraine's Western allies about becoming more deeply engaged in the war, where the Kremlin's forces have gained an upper hand amid Ukraine's shortage of manpower and weapons. Some of Ukraine's Western partners have previously expressed concern that conflict could spill beyond Ukraine into a war between Nato and Russia.
French Prez Emmanuel Macron repeated last week that he doesn't exclude sending troops to Ukraine, and UK foreign secretary David Cameron said Kyiv's forces will be able to use British long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia.
The Kremlin branded those comments as dangerous, heightening tension between Russia and Nato. The war already has placed significant strain on relations between Moscow and the West. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Macron's recent statement and other remarks by British and US officials had prompted the nuclear drills. "It's a new round of escalation," Peskov said.
