**
Putin Oversees Strategic Nuclear Drills
In a significant display of military capability, Russian President Vladimir Putin supervised a Russian nuclear readiness test on Wednesday, an event that drew close scrutiny from international observers. The large-scale drill involved Russia’s complete nuclear triad—land-based missiles, strategic submarines, and long-range bombers. Amid heightened geopolitical tensions over the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin was quick to frame the event as a routine procedure, with a statement clarifying that it was a “planned command and control exercise” to verify the readiness of its strategic forces.
A Triad of Power: Details of the Nuclear Readiness Test
The exercise demonstrated the extensive reach of Russia‘s strategic arsenal. State television showed Putin observing the proceedings from a command center, receiving reports from Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Shoigu stated the drill’s scenario involved practicing a “massive retaliatory nuclear strike” in response to a hypothetical nuclear attack on Russia. This messaging is consistent with Russia‘s declared nuclear doctrine, which permits the use of nuclear weapons in retaliation or when the state’s existence is under threat.
Key moments of the exercise included:
- Land: The successful launch of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Plesetsk cosmodrome.
- Sea: The firing of a Sineva ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine submerged in the Barents Sea.
- Air: The launch of air-launched cruise missiles from Tu-95MS strategic bombers.
All ballistic missiles reportedly hit their intended targets at the Kura test range on the Kamchatka Peninsula, thousands of kilometres away.
Geopolitical Context and Strategic Messaging
While Moscow insists the drills are routine, their timing is widely seen as a deliberate act of nuclear signaling. The exercise serves as a stark reminder to Western nations of Russia‘s military red lines as they continue to provide military support to Ukraine.
The event also came just hours after Russia‘s upper house of parliament approved a bill to de-ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Although Russian officials claim this does not signal an intent to resume nuclear testing, the move aligns Russia‘s legal stance with that of the United States, which has not ratified the treaty. Analysts view this as another step in the dismantling of post-Cold War arms control agreements.
Conclusion: A Calculated Display of Force
Ultimately, while the Kremlin labels it a planned command and control exercise, Putin’s supervision of the Russian nuclear readiness test is a powerful and calculated message on the global stage. It confirms the operational readiness of Moscow’s command chains and strategic deterrent, underscoring the formidable role these forces play in the world’s complex geopolitical landscape.
**
