Russia practices ‘nuclear-capable’ missile strikes amid Ukraine war

Russia has simulated nuclear-capable missile strikes in the western enclave of Kaliningrad in the Baltic Sea, in a potential signal to the West, which has been heavily backing Ukraine, and an indication of how the conflict in Ukraine could escalate.

In a statement on Wednesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that Moscow had simulated "electronic launches" of nuclear-capable Iskander mobile ballistic missile systems during military maneuvers in Kaliningrad, situated between Poland and Lithuania.

It said Russian forces had conducted single and multiple strikes at mock enemy missile launchers, airfields, protected infrastructure, military equipment, and command posts.

After performing the launches, the military personnel carried out a maneuver to change their position in order to avoid "a possible retaliatory strike," the ministry added.

The combat units also practiced "actions in conditions of radiation and chemical contamination," it said.

More than 100 service members were involved in the drill.

According to observers, Russia's state television has in recent days been trying to make the use of nuclear weapons more acceptable to the public. "For two weeks now, we have been hearing from our television screens that nuclear silos should be opened," Russian newspaper editor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov said on Tuesday.

MG