Russia to practise deploying tactical nukes in military drill

Exercise aims to ensure territorial integrity, sovereignty in response to Western threats’

Russia said on May 6 it would practise the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons as part of a military exercise after what Moscow said were threats from France, Britain and the US.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, it has repeatedly warned of rising nuclear risks - warnings which the US says it has to take seriously, though American officials say they have seen no change in Russia's nuclear posture.

Russia says the US and its European allies are pushing the world to the brink of confrontation between nuclear powers by supporting Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars of weapons, some of which are being used against Russian territory.

Russia's Defence Ministry said it would hold military drills including practice for the preparation and deployment for use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.

It said the drills were ordered by President Vladimir Putin.