Russia announces three days of major nuclear drills  

The Russian Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that its military would conduct exercises focused on the use of strategic nuclear weapons “under conditions of a threat of aggression” from 19–21 May.

The ministry said the drills would include the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles at ranges inside Russia, as well as practice of the "joint preparation and use of nuclear weapons" deployed in Belarus. The exercises are set to use more than 64,000 troops and 7,800 pieces of equipment, and will involve the Strategic Rocket Forces, Navy, Air Force, and forces from the Leningrad and Central military districts.

The exercises follow a similar announcement by the Belarusian Defense Ministry the previous day, which said joint Russian-Belarusian drills for units responsible for the combat use and logistical support of nuclear weapons had begun.

According to Novaya Gazeta Europe military analyst Ilya Volzhsky, such exercises are held regularly in Russia, but this is the first time drills of this kind are being conducted on Belarusian territory. He added that drills of this scale require extensive preparation and are unlikely to be a direct response to Sunday's Ukrainian drone strike on Moscow.