Russia has notified the Pentagon of its intent to conduct its annual strategic nuclear exercise, Grom (“Thunder”). Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said this in his daily briefing on October 25. “Yes,” he said, “the U.S. was notified.”
And as we’ve highlighted before, this is a routine annual exercise by Russia. And so, in this regard, Russia is complying with its arms control obligations, and its transparency commitments to — to make those notifications. And so, that is something that we will continue to keep an eye on.
The United States expects Russia to conduct test missile launches. In the past, the drill involved launching intercontinental ballistic missiles. The U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price pointed out that “while Russia engages in unprovoked aggression and reckless nuclear rhetoric, these notification measures do ensure we’re not taken by surprise, and reduce the risks of misperception.”
The Ukrainian publication Defense Express reports that the Grom exercise may take place after the completion of NATO’s Steadfast Noon nuclear drill. The exact date of Grom-2022 is yet unknown; the last time Russia conducted the nuclear drill was February 19, 2022, five days before the start of its invasion of Ukraine.
Russian officials often repeat that, following the Russian military doctrine, Moscow may use nuclear weapons — either in response to a nuclear strike against itself or its allies, or in cases when the use of conventional weapons against Russia threatens the very existence of the Russian state.
Follow Meduza in English on Twitter to stay up to date.