Putin oversees nuclear attack drills

By TARYN KAUR PEDLER, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

Vladimir Putin personally oversaw a test of Russia 's nuclear forces on land, sea, and air, using intercontinental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers. A Kremlin statement on Wednesday confirmed the exercise. 'Under the direction of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, a training exercise of the strategic nuclear forces was conducted, involving their ground, naval, and air components,' it read.

Vladimir Putin personally oversaw a test of Russia 's nuclear forces on land, sea, and air, using intercontinental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers. A Kremlin statement on Wednesday confirmed the exercise. 'Under the direction of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, a training exercise of the strategic nuclear forces was conducted, involving their ground, naval, and air components,' it read.

During the testing, practical launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and air-launched cruise missiles were carried out. 'An intercontinental ballistic missile, the Yars, was launched from the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome, hitting the Kura test site on the Kamchatka Peninsula,' the statement continued. 'A Sineva ballistic missile was launched from the strategic nuclear-powered submarine Bryansk in the Barents Sea'.

During the testing, practical launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and air-launched cruise missiles were carried out. 'An intercontinental ballistic missile, the Yars, was launched from the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome, hitting the Kura test site on the Kamchatka Peninsula,' the statement continued. 'A Sineva ballistic missile was launched from the strategic nuclear-powered submarine Bryansk in the Barents Sea'.

The Kremlin also confirmed Tupolev Tu-95MS long-range aircraft were also involved in the exercise, performing launches of air-launched cruise missiles. 'The exercise tested the level of preparedness of the military command and the practical skills of the operational personnel in organizing the control of subordinate forces,' the statement added. 'All exercise tasks were completed'. The chief of the military's General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, reported to Putin via video link that the drills were intended to simulate 'procedures for authorising the use of nuclear weapons.'

The Kremlin also confirmed Tupolev Tu-95MS long-range aircraft were also involved in the exercise, performing launches of air-launched cruise missiles. 'The exercise tested the level of preparedness of the military command and the practical skills of the operational personnel in organizing the control of subordinate forces,' the statement added. 'All exercise tasks were completed'. The chief of the military's General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, reported to Putin via video link that the drills were intended to simulate 'procedures for authorising the use of nuclear weapons.'

Russia carries out regular drills of its nuclear forces to put them through their paces and to remind adversaries that it holds the world's largest nuclear arsenal at a period of soaring East-West tensions. NATO began its own annual nuclear exercises earlier this month, with F-35A fighter jets and B-52 bombers among some 60 aircraft from 13 nations taking part in the Steadfast Noon exercise, hosted by Belgium and The Netherlands. Russia's latest practice launches came as his planned summit on Ukraine with US President Donald Trump was put on hold as he did not want it to be a 'waste of time'.

Russia carries out regular drills of its nuclear forces to put them through their paces and to remind adversaries that it holds the world's largest nuclear arsenal at a period of soaring East-West tensions. NATO began its own annual nuclear exercises earlier this month, with F-35A fighter jets and B-52 bombers among some 60 aircraft from 13 nations taking part in the Steadfast Noon exercise, hosted by Belgium and The Netherlands. Russia's latest practice launches came as his planned summit on Ukraine with US President Donald Trump was put on hold as he did not want it to be a 'waste of time'.

The meeting was announced by Trump last week and was supposed to take place in Budapest, although a date had not been set. But the decision to call it off was made following discussions between US secretary of state Marco Rubio and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. It is understood that the conversation did not go well - with Lavrov telling Rubio that Russia would not accept freezing the current front line in Ukraine.

The meeting was announced by Trump last week and was supposed to take place in Budapest, although a date had not been set. But the decision to call it off was made following discussions between US secretary of state Marco Rubio and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. It is understood that the conversation did not go well - with Lavrov telling Rubio that Russia would not accept freezing the current front line in Ukraine.

'An additional in-person meeting between the secretary and foreign minister is not necessary, and there are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future,' a Trump administration official said. The official, who wished to remain anonymous, nonetheless labelled the call between Rubio and Lavrov as 'productive'. The Kremlin also said on Tuesday there was no 'precise timeframe' for a summit between Trump and Putin.

'An additional in-person meeting between the secretary and foreign minister is not necessary, and there are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future,' a Trump administration official said. The official, who wished to remain anonymous, nonetheless labelled the call between Rubio and Lavrov as 'productive'. The Kremlin also said on Tuesday there was no 'precise timeframe' for a summit between Trump and Putin.

Trump, meanwhile, has been shifting his stance all year on key issues in the conflict, including whether a ceasefire should come before longer-term peace talks, and whether Ukraine could win back land seized by Russia during almost four years of fighting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday emphasized that the planned Putin-Trump summit needs to be thoroughly prepared. 'No one wants to waste time: neither President Trump nor President Putin,' Peskov told reporters. 'These are the two presidents who are accustomed to working efficiently with high productivity. But effectiveness always requires preparation.'

Trump, meanwhile, has been shifting his stance all year on key issues in the conflict, including whether a ceasefire should come before longer-term peace talks, and whether Ukraine could win back land seized by Russia during almost four years of fighting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday emphasized that the planned Putin-Trump summit needs to be thoroughly prepared. 'No one wants to waste time: neither President Trump nor President Putin,' Peskov told reporters. 'These are the two presidents who are accustomed to working efficiently with high productivity. But effectiveness always requires preparation.'

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said nevertheless that preparations for a summit were continuing, and that he did not 'see any major obstacles'. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the potential host, also said preparations for the summit were continuing. Trump has long said he aims to end the war in Ukraine, Europe's deadliest since World War Two. But since taking office he has yet to achieve a breakthrough, despite an overture to Russia which included a summit with Putin in Alaska in August.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said nevertheless that preparations for a summit were continuing, and that he did not 'see any major obstacles'. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the potential host, also said preparations for the summit were continuing. Trump has long said he aims to end the war in Ukraine, Europe's deadliest since World War Two. But since taking office he has yet to achieve a breakthrough, despite an overture to Russia which included a summit with Putin in Alaska in August.

Russia controls more than 116,000 square km, or more than 19 per cent of Ukraine. Ukraine and its European allies have called for an immediate ceasefire on current battle lines ahead of any peace talks, a position Trump backed publicly on Friday after meeting Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. Moscow has set conditions for a ceasefire and has called for Ukraine to cede more land.

Russia controls more than 116,000 square km, or more than 19 per cent of Ukraine. Ukraine and its European allies have called for an immediate ceasefire on current battle lines ahead of any peace talks, a position Trump backed publicly on Friday after meeting Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. Moscow has set conditions for a ceasefire and has called for Ukraine to cede more land.

Lavrov said that Russia's conditions for peace had not changed since the Putin-Trump summit in Anchorage. 'The elements of our position are well known to everyone,' the Kremlin's Peskov said. 'They are very clearly formulated by our president and everyone knows them well.'

Lavrov said that Russia's conditions for peace had not changed since the Putin-Trump summit in Anchorage. 'The elements of our position are well known to everyone,' the Kremlin's Peskov said. 'They are very clearly formulated by our president and everyone knows them well.'

UkraineVladimir PutinRussia

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