Russia recently rehearsed a "massive" nuclear strike, according to the Kremlin.
The military exercise involved delivering a "response to an enemy nuclear strike", Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. State TV showed him recounting the rehearsal to President Vladimir Putin.
This demonstration aligns with Russia's parliament endorsing Moscow's withdrawal from a global treaty prohibiting nuclear warhead testing. Routine nuclear readiness simulations occur between Russia and the United States, with Moscow's exercises typically in late October.
Shoigu informed Putin that this year's drills centered on "delivering a massive nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear strike." The Kremlin added that the exercise included "practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles."
A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from Russia's far-east test site, and another missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the Barents Sea. The defense ministry released footage.
Earlier this month, Vladimir Putin announced a "final successful test" of a nuclear-powered cruise missile, first revealed in 2018. Independent verification is pending.
These tests coincide with Moscow's decision to de-ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, established in 1996. Putin urged ministers to support this change, echoing the stance of the United States.
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, concerns over nuclear conflict escalated. In June, Russia deployed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, with Putin emphasizing their use contingent on a direct threat to Russia's territory or sovereignty.
The U.S. maintains there is currently no indication of the Kremlin's intention to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
