Putin's nuclear warning: Russia flexes strategic muscle

A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the north, successfully hitting a target at the Kura range in Kamchatka. From submarines in the Barents Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, Sineva and Bulava missiles were fired.

The maneuvers involved strategic Tu-95MS bombers, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons and launching cruise missiles. The Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, presented Putin with details regarding the course of the exercises.

According to information from the "Daily Mail," Defense Minister Andrei Belousov warned that these exercises demonstrate Russia's ability to conduct a "massive nuclear attack with strategic offensive forces in response to a potential nuclear attack from an adversary."

Putin emphasized the importance of keeping strategic forces in "constant combat readiness" and praised Russian missiles for their ability to penetrate missile defense systems. He noted that "nuclear weapons remain an important element of Russia's security and sovereignty."

Additionally, the Kremlin announced changes in nuclear doctrine, which align with Putin's recommendations. The president stated that these changes will allow Moscow to use nuclear weapons in response to a conventional attack by a power possessing nuclear weapons, thereby lowering the "nuclear threshold."

Moreover, the new doctrine states that Russia may carry out a nuclear attack if a non-nuclear country attacks with the support of a nuclear power.

Aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear state, but with the involvement or support of a nuclear state, is considered a joint attack on the Russian Federation, said Putin.

Analysts have different opinions about these changes. According to "Daily Mail" reports, some see them as an attempt to discourage Ukraine's allies from supplying Kyiv with long-range weapons, while others interpret them as rhetoric meant to intimidate Western countries.