Putin Oversees Nuclear Exercises, Vows to Use ‘All Means Necessary’

Russian president Vladimir Putin oversaw Russian nuclear exercises Wednesday as part of an annual drill known as “Grom.” The drills featured nuclear submarines, ballistic missiles, and long-range strategic bombers.

According to Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu, the drills sought to simulate a retaliatory Russian nuclear strike. Russia activated a host of its military capabilities to respond to that sort of surprise attack. A Russian “Yars” inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) was launched 500 miles north of Moscow and successfully reached its target, the Kremlin noted.

The exercises don’t appear to have rattled Ukrainian leaders, though. “My personal opinion is that Putin won’t use nukes,” Ukrainian defense minister Oleksiy Reznikov said.

The military exercise comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine which has seen Russia experience numerous setbacks in recent months.