Russia to hold largest ever strategic nuclear exercise

Russia's strategic nuclear forces will hold major exercises this month, involving more than 4,000 troops.

RIA Novosti quoted the Russian Defense Ministry's announcement today saying that the exercise will take place in Altai, south-central Russia, using a large air force, including about 400 engineering units.

Topol-M mobile missile launchers march in formation during a military parade in Red Square on May 9. Photo: Reuters

Dmitry Andreyev, a major in the Strategic Missile Forces, said the troops would “carry out combat missions in conditions of radio-electronic interference and widespread enemy activity in the deployment area”. The military would also practice against irregular units and high-precision weapons. Andreyev said special units would act as enemy forces during the exercise.

Supersonic MiG-31 fighters and Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft will take part, Mr Andreyev added, saying the scale of the air force was unprecedented for such exercises.

Both Russia and NATO have stepped up military activity since conflict broke out between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. A Kremlin security adviser said yesterday that Russia would revise its military doctrine this year, due to the crisis in Ukraine and rapidly deteriorating relations with NATO.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 US and NATO troops will also exercise at the Yavoriv training center in Lviv, Ukraine, this month. The troops will participate in peacekeeping operations, including command post exercises, patrols and bomb disposal. Ukraine participates as a NATO Partner for Peace.

President Vladimir Putin reminded his partners last week that Russia is one of the world's leading nuclear powers and "it's best not to mess with us." He said the ongoing fighting in eastern Ukraine was a result of Kiev's refusal to negotiate.

According to vnexpress