Russian MOD reveals details of nuclear drills (VIDEO)

Bombers, submarines, and ground-based launchers have taken part in strategic missile exercises

Source: RT News

Russia has conducted exercises of its strategic deterrent forces involving test-launches of cruise and intercontinental ballistic missiles from air, sea, and ground platforms, the Defense Ministry has said.

The drills were announced by President Vladimir Putin just days after NATO staged its own nuclear exercises in Western Europe.

“In the course of the command and control exercise, the Armed Forces are working out the missions of inflicting a mass nuclear strike with strategic deterrent forces in response to an enemy atomic attack,” Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said on Tuesday.

According to a statement from the Defense Ministry, the drills involved the launch of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at the Kura test site in Kamchatka.

“Sineva and Bulava ballistic missiles were launched from the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine Novomoskovsk in the Barents Sea and from the nuclear-powered submarine Knyaz Oleg in the Sea of Okhotsk,” the ministry added. “Tu-95MS long-range aircraft were also involved in the exercise, launching cruise missiles.”

The exercise was run from the National Defense Control Center and was intended to check the level of preparedness of the strategic deterrence forces, according to the ministry. All objectives were “completed in full, all missiles reached their targets,” the statement concluded.

Speaking about the drills earlier on Tuesday, Putin said nuclear weapons are “an extreme, exceptional measure to ensure state security.” He also revealed that the strategic deterrent force will soon receive new and updated missile launchers, submarines, and bombers.

**** UPDATED 6:58 PM EDT ****

Intelligence Sources inside Russia CONFIRM: During the exercise of Russia's strategic nuclear forces, the so-called " nuclear football " (the Cheget terminal) WAS used!   

•  Bulava and Sineva ICBMs were successfully launched from a submarine.

• A "Yars" ICBM was successfully launched from Plesetsk

• Multiple Cruise missiles were launched from Tu-95MS strategic bombers.

• All missiles (without special warheads) hit their designated targets.

Russian Defense Minister Belousov, who personally participated in the training for the first time, confirmed "During the training, the tasks of delivering a massive nuclear strike in response to a nuclear strike by the enemy were being practiced." 

Please Consider Donating...

Core provides OSINT data collection for free but we do incur time and expenses. Any donation amount you can provide (one time or recurring) is highly appreciated. It helps us fund this effort of information sharing. You can donate here if you choose to opine.