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High tension between Russia and Europe, with London in the crosshairs of the Kremlin’s latest threats. The Russian Defense Ministry has said it wants to organize exercises that simulate the use of nuclear weapons on the battlefield. Monday’s announcement came days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine. The ministry says the exercises are a response to “provocative statements and threats by some Western officials towards the Russian Federation.”
It is the first time Russia has publicly announced tactical nuclear weapons exercises, even though its strategic nuclear forces exercise regularly. Tactical nuclear weapons have a lower yield than the massive warheads that arm intercontinental ballistic missiles intended to destroy entire cities.
NATO: dangerous Russian rhetoric
«Russia’s nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible. NATO remains vigilant. Our collective deterrence and defense posture will continue to ensure that every inch of allied territory is protected. Ukraine has the right to self-defense, enshrined in the United Nations Charter, and NATO allies will continue to support Ukraine. Russia started this illegal war and must put an end to it.” Alliance spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah told ANSA.
Kiev: usual blackmail from Moscow
Ukraine downplays Russia’s tactical nuclear drills. This is “the usual blackmail”, said the spokesman for the Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry, Andrei Yusov. «So far we have not observed anything new, apart from the response to these statements. We are collecting all the necessary information and both the Ukrainian special services and those of the entire free world are working on this,” Yusov explained on state television. «Nuclear blackmail is a common practice. Once again, this is not important news,” he concluded.
Moscow ready to strike British targets
Russia also summoned British Ambassador Nigel Casey to the Foreign Office for a formal protest after that Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that Ukraine has the right to use British weapons to strike Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Cameron’s statements recognized that Britain is now de-facto party to the conflict. He warned that British military facilities could be targeted both inside and outside Ukraine in response to attacks on Russian territory.