Falcon powers – The Russian Ministry of Defense announced today that President Vladimir Putin has ordered preparations for military exercises on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.
In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said, “Based on the instructions of the Supreme Commander of the Russian Armed Forces, and in order to enhance the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to carry out combat missions, the General Staff has initiated preparations for conducting an exercise in the nearest future with the missile formations of the Southern Military District, involving the Air Force and Navy.”
The statement further explained that the exercise would involve “a series of activities to train for the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.”
The Russian Defense Ministry clarified that the purpose of the exercise is to “maintain the readiness of personnel and equipment of units involved in the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, in order to respond and ensure the safety and sovereignty of Russian territory without any conditions, in response to provocative statements and threats issued by some Western officials against Russia.”