Russia Simulates Massive Nuclear Response in Strategic Drill

Russia conducted a nuclear strike simulation as part of a training exercise, involving the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles. The drill, initiated by President Putin amid the Ukraine war, included missile launches from various platforms, reaching their targets successfully.

Russia conducted a significant training exercise on Tuesday to simulate a 'massive nuclear strike' in retaliation for a hypothetical first strike by an adversary, according to Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

President Vladimir Putin launched the drill during a pivotal moment in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The exercise, described as routine by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, featured the launch of both ballistic and cruise missiles. As a highlight of the exercise, a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was fired from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northwest Russia to the Kura test range in Kamchatka, located in the far east, as reported by the defence ministry.

Further, Sineva and Bulava ballistic missiles were deployed from submarines in the Barents and Okhotsk Seas. Tu-95MS strategic bombers, capable of carrying nuclear payloads, were also part of the operation, successfully launching cruise missiles to their designated targets, the ministry confirmed.

(With inputs from agencies.)