Russia has test-fired nuclear-capable missiles from land, sea, and air in a simulation of a “massive” retaliatory response to a potential Western attack. President Vladimir Putin warned that any aggression against Russia would meet with “overwhelming” nuclear firepower, emphasizing that this is Russia’s “ultimate” security measure. The exercises involved the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile, launched from the Plesetsk site to the Kamchatka Peninsula. Capable of carrying four independently targeted warheads, the Yars missile has been part of Russia’s strategic arsenal since its covert development in 2007. The Ministry of Defense also confirmed launches of ballistic missiles from nuclear-powered submarines stationed in the Barents Sea and Sea of Okhotsk. Russia’s Tu-95 strategic bombers completed the drill with simulated cruise missile attacks. Defense Minister Andrey Belousov told Putin via live video feed that the exercise demonstrated Russia’s capability to deliver a “massive nuclear strike” in retaliation for any nuclear aggression. Analysts noted that the timing, closely following the US Global Thunder exercise, reflects mounting nuclear tensions despite the exercises being planned well in advance.
