Russian Military Increases Readiness Of Nuclear Forces In Response To "Threats" Made Against Russia

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MOSCOW - The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced that it is increasing the readiness of its nuclear forces and plans to hold aviation and naval drills involving the country's missile formations, and to test its ability to deploy tactical nuclear weapons.

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The MOD said that the drills will be carried out to ensure Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty in light of what it calls "provocative statements and threats made by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation". 

Another statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense said that the simulated nuclear drills will be carried out in response to "Provocative statements and threats from France, Britain and the United States regarding the Russian Federation". 

"The purpose of the exercises is to maintain the readiness of combat units' personnel and equipment of non-strategic nuclear weapons to react and, in order to definitely ensure Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty," the statement by the ministry read.

The drills that will be carried out involve the simulated use of its tactical nuclear weapons which involve short-range missiles and artillery as opposed to the longer-range strategic weapons with larger payload warheads.

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