Russia Releases Footage From Nuclear Drills
Russia’s Defence Ministry has released footage showing ballistic and hypersonic missile launches during its latest nuclear drills with Belarus.
Footage shows Russian forces firing an Iskander-M ballistic missile from the Kapustin Yar test range in the Astrakhan region. It also shows a Northern Fleet frigate launching a Zircon hypersonic missile from the Barents Sea.
Large-Scale Military Exercises Underway
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the drills – on “the preparation and potential use of nuclear forces in response to the threat of aggression” – were taking place from May 19-21. Over 64,000 personnel and more than 7,800 weapons and specialised equipment – including more than 200 missile launchers, 140 aircraft, 73 ships, and 13 submarines – are included.
On Monday, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry described the joint Russian-Belarusian exercises as “an unprecedented challenge to the global security architecture” and called for “strong condemnation from all states that uphold the nuclear non-proliferation regime.”
Belarus Rejects International Criticism
Minsk rejected the criticism, insisting the exercises are pre-planned, ‘not directed against third countries’, and pose no threat to regional security.
The date and location of the footage published by the Russian Defence Ministry cannot be independently verified.
Article by Viory
