In a show of force aimed at the West, the Russian military has commenced a third round of drills involving tactical nuclear weapons. The exercises, organized by the Kremlin, are intended to pressure the Western nations into reducing their support for Ukraine.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, units from the central and southern military districts have been deployed for the drills. These units are equipped with Iskander short-range missiles, and they will be practicing the receiving and deployment of nuclear weapons from storage to designated launch areas. The maneuvers will also involve air force units, which will arm their warplanes with nuclear weapons and perform patrol flights.

The main objective of these drills is to maintain the readiness of Russian troops for combat missions. Tactical nuclear weapons, such as bombs, warheads for short-range missiles, and artillery munitions, are specifically designed for use on the battlefield. Unlike strategic weapons, which are used to target entire cities and are much more powerful, tactical nuclear weapons have a limited destructive scope.

This is the third round of maneuvers of its kind, with the previous exercises having taken place in May and June. The drills in June were conducted jointly with the armed forces of Belarus, an ally of Russia. Last year, Russia had stationed some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a country that shares borders with both Ukraine and NATO members Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his officials have repeatedly emphasized Russia's nuclear capabilities to deter NATO allies from increasing their support for Ukraine. The Kremlin has described these drills with tactical nuclear weapons as a response to statements made by NATO members regarding potential strikes on Russian territory and the deployment of Western troops to Ukraine.

Despite recent gains on the battlefield, Putin has publicly stated that Russia does not need nuclear weapons to achieve its objectives. However, he also reaffirmed that they could be used in the event of a threat to Russia's territorial integrity, in line with the country's nuclear doctrine. There have been calls from Russian hawks to modify the doctrine to lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons, and Putin has acknowledged the possibility of making changes to adapt to the evolving global situation.

With tensions escalating and uncertainty mounting, the international community closely watches Russia's military maneuvers, hoping for a de-escalation of the conflict and a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Ukraine.