By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Russia has launched one of its largest nuclear military exercises in years, sending a powerful signal to NATO as geopolitical tensions surrounding the Ukraine war and growing security concerns in the Baltic region continue to escalate. The large-scale drills, involving tens of thousands of troops and advanced missile systems, come at a time when relations between Moscow and Western powers are becoming increasingly strained.
The Russian military announced on Thursday that nuclear-capable missiles had been deployed and nuclear munitions delivered to selected units as part of extensive war games taking place across Russia and neighbouring Belarus. The exercises are designed to test Moscow’s preparedness in the event of what officials described as external aggression, while simultaneously demonstrating the country’s strategic military capabilities.
According to Russian authorities, approximately 64,000 personnel are participating in the exercises, making them among the biggest nuclear readiness drills held by the country in recent years. The operation includes simulations focused on the preparation, coordination, and potential deployment of nuclear forces under wartime scenarios. Military officials said the exercises are intended to strengthen readiness amid what Moscow describes as mounting threats from the West.
Speaking at the Kremlin, Russian President emphasized that nuclear weapons remain a measure of last resort, stressing that Russia would only consider using such arms under exceptional and extreme circumstances. Addressing Belarusian leader , Defence Minister , and senior military commanders, Putin said Russia’s nuclear arsenal continues to serve as a key guarantor of national sovereignty and regional security for both Russia and Belarus.
Putin also warned that rising global instability and emerging security risks require Moscow to maintain a strong and reliable nuclear deterrent. While insisting Russia does not seek a costly arms race with rival nations, he said the country would continue modernising its strategic military forces, including the development of advanced missiles, submarines, and defence technologies.
The exercises reportedly involved the launch and testing of several major weapons systems. Russia said it fired a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the northern Plesetsk Cosmodrome, while naval forces launched a Zircon hypersonic missile from a frigate stationed in the Barents Sea. A submarine also reportedly fired a Sineva ballistic missile, highlighting Moscow’s efforts to showcase the capabilities of its land, sea, and air-based nuclear arsenal.
Military footage released by Russia further displayed a range of strategic assets, including Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, anti-submarine aircraft, and MiG-31 fighter jets equipped with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. Russian military chief Valery Gerasimov reportedly confirmed that selected units in both Russia and Belarus had been issued nuclear munitions during the exercises, though such drills traditionally involve simulated or dummy warheads rather than active nuclear devices.
The military activity unfolds against the backdrop of Russia’s continuing war in Ukraine, which Moscow increasingly portrays as an existential struggle against Western influence and NATO expansion. Since the conflict began, Putin has repeatedly referenced Russia’s nuclear capabilities, warning Western governments against increasing military involvement or supplying advanced weapons to Kyiv. Ukraine and several NATO leaders, however, have dismissed such rhetoric as dangerous nuclear posturing designed to intimidate opponents.
At the same time, tensions are mounting in the Baltic region. Russia has accused Baltic states of permitting Ukrainian drones to pass through their airspace to strike targets inside Russian territory—claims firmly denied by NATO. Meanwhile, Baltic governments have accused Moscow of redirecting drones into their airspace, increasing fears of military miscalculations and broader regional instability.
The diplomatic war of words intensified after Lithuania’s foreign minister suggested NATO should demonstrate its ability to challenge Russia’s heavily militarised Kaliningrad region, a strategically important Russian enclave positioned between Lithuania and Poland on the Baltic coast. The Kremlin sharply condemned the remarks, describing them as reckless and dangerously provocative.
Kaliningrad remains one of Russia’s most strategically sensitive territories, hosting major military installations and serving as headquarters for the Baltic Fleet. Its location places it at the centre of NATO-Russia tensions, especially as military activity in the region continues to grow.
Russia also recently joined forces with China in criticising U.S. President over proposed missile defence initiatives, arguing such plans could undermine global strategic stability and trigger a new era of military competition between major powers.
With military exercises intensifying and diplomatic rhetoric becoming increasingly confrontational, analysts warn that the growing friction between Russia and NATO risks deepening already fragile global security conditions.
Although Moscow insists its nuclear posture is defensive, the scale and timing of the drills are likely to heighten international concern about the possibility of further escalation in an already volatile geopolitical climate.
Source Reuters
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