Russia announced on Monday that it will conduct nuclear exercises near Ukraine “soon” and said that his army might attack British military equipment in that country, in response to statements by the leaders of the Western powers about troops that might be sent. Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, in February 2022, the president of Russia Vladimir Putin put on the table several times the ability to visit him nuclear weapons.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced in a statement that exercises were organized “for training in the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons”, which can be used on the battlefield and fired on missiles . The Kremlin said that these exercises are a response to “threats” from the leaders of Western powers regarding the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov denied discussing the “intention to send armed groups to Ukraine, that is, to send NATO troops in front of the Russian armed forces.” Peskov pointed out the French President Emmanuel Macron, whose rhetoric he called “very dangerous.” Last week Macron reiterated his stance on being able to send troops to Ukraine “if the Russians breached the front lines, if there was a Ukrainian request.”
Attacking British targets
The news of nuclear weapons exercises “is an example of the kind of reckless rhetoric we have seen from Russia in the past,” the United States responded. “It is completely unacceptable given the current security situation”a Pentagon spokesman told reporters, Pat Rydersaying that “no change in the position of strategic forces” had been observed but that they would continue to “monitor.”
The Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, said in a press conference after receiving the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, in Riga together with her counterparts from Latvia and Lithuania, that the statements of the Russian government are nothing new and “the bring about. make us question our decisions” to support Ukraine. Russian exercises including the air force, navy and forces of the Southern Military District, which is based very close to Ukraine and covers the regions of Ukraine claimed by Moscow. The date and place of the exercises have not been specified.
Russia’s nuclear doctrine gives “strictly defensive” use of nuclear weapons if Russia is attacked with weapons of mass destruction or if there is an attack with conventional weapons “that threatens the existence of the State. ” The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that The early arrival of F-16 fighters to Ukraine will be seen as a boost of the United States and NATO. Moscow pointed out that this type of aircraft has been used for years in the “joint nuclear missions” of the Atlantic alliance.
Russia also threatened on Monday to attack British targets in Ukraine “and beyond” if Kyiv uses UK-supplied weapons against its borders. Russian diplomacy indicated that British ambassador Nigel Casey was summoned after statements by British Foreign Minister David Cameron, according to Moscow, referring to “Ukraine’s right to hit Russian territory using weapons” Great Britain.”
Seven dead close Belgrade
On the battlefield The Russian military said two more towns in eastern and northeastern Ukraine were captured, where Moscow’s troops have recorded several advances in recent months. The Russian Defense Ministry said its troops liberated the towns of Kotliarivka, in the northeast, and Soloviove, in the Donetsk region, in the east, near the town of Ocherétine, which Moscow claimed Sunday.
Russia has been on the offensive since the failed major offensive launched by Ukraine in mid-2023benefiting from the deception of the kyiv army, which is struggling to recruit new soldiers to suppress the attack that began in February 2022. On the other hand, at least six people were killed and 35 were injured in a bombing Ukrainian drone in the Belgorod region, where attacks by kyiv forces are common according to the governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov.
