Russia’s Defense Ministry announces start of nuclear drills with live launches of ballistic and cruise missiles

Russia’s Armed Forces are conducting nuclear readiness drills from May 19 to 21, simulating conditions of an imminent threat of aggression, the Defense Ministry announced.

The exercises include live launches of ballistic and cruise missiles at ranges in Russia, according to a statement distributed by the Defense Ministry and cited by Russian news agencies, including the Interfax news agency.

The drills will also cover the joint preparation and use of nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, the Defense Ministry said.

Nearly 65,000 troops, more than 200 missile launchers, more than 140 aircraft, 73 surface ships, and 13 submarines — including eight strategic missile submarines — are taking part in the exercises, according to the ministry’s statement.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry announced the day before that exercises had begun for units involved in the combat use of nuclear weapons and nuclear support, during which, among other things, it was planned to work out jointly with the Russian side ‘questions of delivering nuclear munitions and preparing them for use.’ Russia announced the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus in 2023, stating that this did not violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In September of last year, Russia and Belarus conducted Zapad-2025 exercises, during which, among other things, planning for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons was practiced. For the duration of the exercises, Poland closed its border with Belarus.