Russia's Nuclear Drills: Leningrad's Tactical Preparations Unveiled

Russia's defense ministry has revealed that the Leningrad military district and navy are conducting non-strategic nuclear exercises using Iskander missiles. Personnel are practicing tasks including equipping launch vehicles and deploying to designated positions. The drills aim to prepare for potential threats, involving collaboration with Belarusian troops.

Russia's non-strategic nuclear exercises involving the Leningrad military district and the navy make use of Iskander missiles, its defence ministry said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Russia said it started a second stage of drills to practice deployment of tactical nuclear weapons alongside Belarusian troops, after what Moscow called threats from Western powers. "The personnel of the missile formation of the Leningrad Military District are practicing combat training tasks," the ministry said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

These included obtaining special training ammunition for the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system, equipping launch vehicles with them and covertly advancing to the designated position area for preparations for missile launches, it added. "The crews of navy ships involved in the training will equip sea-based cruise missiles with special mock warheads and enter designated patrol areas," the ministry said.