Russia claims it intends to conduct exercises mimicking the use of nuclear weapons on the battlefield and has threatened to attack British military installations.
Amid rapidly increasing tensions following remarks made by senior Western officials regarding potentially wider involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, Russia threatened to attack British military facilities on Monday and said that it will conduct drills resembling the use of nuclear bombs on combat zones.
Moscow issued a warning after calling the British ambassador to the Foreign Ministry, stating that any strikes by Ukraine using weapons supplied by the United Kingdom on Russian territory may result in retaliation strikes against British military installations and equipment, either in Ukraine or abroad.
The statements were made one day before Russian President Vladimir Putin took office for a fifth term and one week before Moscow celebrated Victory Day, the country’s most significant secular festival, on Thursday to commemorate its victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
According to a statement from the Defense Ministry, the exercises are in response to “provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation.”
Although Russia’s strategic nuclear forces routinely conduct training, this was the first time the country had made public announcements about tactical nuclear weapons drills. Air bombs, artillery ammunition, and short-range missile warheads are examples of tactical nuclear weapons that are intended for use in combat situations. They lack the strength of the strategic weapons, which are enormous warheads meant to destroy entire cities and are attached to intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the United Nations, voiced alarm over the increasing number of parties discussing nuclear weapons-related topics in recent times.
According to Dujarric, “current nuclear risks are at an alarmingly high level.” “It is imperative to avoid taking any action that could result in miscalculation or escalation with disastrous consequences.”
With two years of the war under way and the Kremlin’s forces having the upper hand due to Ukraine’s lack of people and weapons, Russia’s announcement served as a warning to Ukraine’s Western partners not to get too involved in the conflict. In the past, a few of Ukraine’s Western allies have voiced concern that the crisis would escalate into a war between Russia and NATO.
Last week, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that Kyiv’s forces will be able to utilize British long-range missiles to strike targets within Russia, while French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated that deploying soldiers to Ukraine is something he does not rule out. Several other NATO nations that are supplying Kyiv with weaponry have objected to that idea.
Tension between Russia and NATO increased as a result of the Kremlin characterizing those remarks as hazardous. Moscow and Western relations are already severely strained as a result of the war.
The nuclear drills were sparked by Macron’s recent statement as well as previous statements made by British and American leaders, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday.
“It’s a new round of escalation,” Peskov declared, making reference to remarks deemed inflammatory by the Kremlin. “It’s unprecedented and calls for extra care and precautions.”
The embassies of France and Britain were called by the Russian Foreign Ministry. “To think about the inevitable catastrophic consequences of such hostile steps from London,” was the advice given to the British envoy.
Tobias Billström, Sweden’s foreign minister, stated that the nuclear drills “contribute to increasing instability.”
Billström told the Swedish news outlet TT that “Russia’s actions may be considered particularly irresponsible and reckless in the current security situation.”
In his customary hawkish manner, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, warned that the remarks made by Macron and Cameron may lead the nuclear-armed world toward a “global catastrophe.”
This was not the first time that nuclear saber-rattling was sparked by Europe’s military assistance for Ukraine. Following the United Kingdom’s plan to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium-tipped armor-piercing rounds in March 2023, Putin declared his intention to place tactical nuclear weapons on Belarus, Ukraine’s neighbor.
According to the ministry, Putin has ordered the exercise, which aims to “increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to fulfill combat tasks.” It stated that the air force, navy, and missile units from the Southern Military District will be participating in the maneuvers.
Little was said in response to the Russian declaration in Ukraine, where Andrii Yusov, the agency’s spokesman, stated on national television that “nuclear blackmail is a usual practice of Putin’s regime; it does not constitute major news.”
Russian provocations have been held accountable by Western leaders for threatening a broader war. The nations that make up NATO expressed their serious worry last week about a campaign of hybrid activities occurring on their territory. They blamed Moscow for the actions and claimed they posed a security risk.
Those allegations were brushed off by Peskov as “new, unfounded accusations leveled at our country.”
Germany announced on Monday that, in response to an alleged computer attack of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party, it had summoned its ambassador to Russia for a week of talks in Berlin.
In the meantime, local authorities in the Belgorod region of Russia said that six people were killed and 35 injured, including two children, after Ukrainian drones struck two vehicles on Monday. In recent months, the area has been affected by the forces of Kyiv.
According to Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, one of the cars was a minibus transporting farm laborers.
The report could not be independently verified.
After more than two years of fighting, the lack of men and ammunition has mostly kept Ukraine’s army confined to the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. Nevertheless, the army has employed its long-range weaponry to strike targets located deep within Russia.
Russia has also primarily relied on long-range missiles, artillery, and drones to inflict damage on Ukraine in what has essentially been an attrition-based conflict.
The energy infrastructure in Sumy, the northern area of Ukraine, was the target of a Russian drone attack throughout the night as the forces of the Kremlin continued their bombardment of the country’s electrical grid. Authorities in the area reported that power was lost in several of the cities and villages in the area, including Sumy.
Overnight, Russia used 13 Shahed drones to attack targets in Ukraine; the air force of Ukraine stated that 12 of the drones were intercepted in the Sumy region.
