Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The Russian Ministry of Defence is conducting drills to simulate response tactics and covertly moving nuclear warheads.
Russia is the world’s largest nuclear power when measured by the number of nuclear warheads.
Last week, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists released a report estimating that Russia currently possesses approximately 4,400 nuclear warheads.
The report also noted that Russia is now in the late stages of a modernization program aimed at replacing all of its Soviet-era nuclear-capable systems with more modern versions.
The Kremlin has often rattled the nuclear saber, and now the country’s nuclear forces have been moved to the “highest level of readiness”.
High combat readiness
RIA Novosti reports that from May 19 to 21, the Russian Ministry of Defense is conducting comprehensive drills to simulate response tactics under an aggressive external threat.
Troops are actively moving specialized equipment across multiple military zones. According to official reports, the drills involve long-range aviation units alongside major naval fleets in both the northern and Pacific regions.
Command structures are testing their speed and logistics under extreme pressure.
“As part of the nuclear force exercises, practical measures were developed to bring nuclear weapons units and formations to the highest levels of combat readiness. The delivery of nuclear munitions to field storage sites in missile brigade position areas was ensured,” the ministry stated on MAX, according to RIA Novosti.
Moving special payloads
On the ground, mobile missile crews are running simulated launch sequences from concealed positions. Personnel are currently working with specialized transport vehicles to practice handling sensitive payloads under combat conditions.
Officials noted that tactical missile crews are working directly with advanced Iskander-M systems. “The personnel of the missile units are carrying out combat training missions to obtain special ammunition for the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system, equip launch vehicles with it, and covertly move to a designated positional area to prepare for missile launches,” the defense department said in a statement.
The scale of the operation reveals a massive coordination effort across various branches of the military. More than 64,000 personnel are participating in the maneuvers. They are utilizing over 7,800 pieces of specialized equipment provided by regional commands.
This large force includes 200 missile launchers and 140 aircraft. Beneath the waves, 13 submarines are tracking coordinates alongside 73 surface ships. Eight of those submarines carry strategic weapons, while separate drills are testing joint deployment systems located on Belarusian territory.
Sources: Russian Defense Ministry, RIA Novosti, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
