Moscow, Russia:
President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to hold nuclear weapons exercises involving its navy and troops near Ukraine, the Defense Ministry said Monday.
Putin has stepped up his nuclear rhetoric since the conflict in Ukraine began, warning in his address to the nation in February that there was a “real” risk of nuclear war.
“During the exercise, a series of measures will be taken to practice the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” the Defense Ministry said.
Non-strategic nuclear weapons, also called tactical nuclear weapons, are designed for use on the battlefield and can be delivered via missiles.
The ministry said the exercises would take place “in the near future” and were aimed at ensuring Russia's territorial integrity in the face of “threats from certain Western officials.”
Air and naval forces will participate, as will troops from the Southern Military District, which borders Ukraine and includes the occupied Ukrainian territories, the report said.
Western officials have become increasingly alarmed by the Kremlin's nuclear rhetoric during the offensive in Ukraine, with Putin repeatedly invoking Russia's nuclear doctrine.
Last year, Russia withheld ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and withdrew from a major arms reduction treaty with the United States.
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