Russia ramps up nuclear training amidst doctrine changes

The Baza channel reports that civil defense and nuclear and chemical decontamination exercises were held in several regions of Russia.

The exercises occurred in Anapa, Ulyanovsk, Kogalym, Buzuluk, Snezhinsk, and other smaller towns.

"The greatest focus was on eliminating the effects of chemical contamination. The training was introduced with a scenario of an enemy conducting a nuclear airstrike on infrastructure facilities," reports Baza.

Last Wednesday, Russia also tested public warning systems. The exercises were held in Khimki, Omsk, Perm, and Samara, among other places.

On September 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, significantly expanding the list of reasons for using nuclear weapons. The document includes explicitly a clause stating that aggression by any state with atomic energy support will be considered a joint attack on Russia.

Putin also proposed adding the possibility of using nuclear weapons if "credible information" is received about massive launches of cruise missiles and drones against targets in the country.

The changes were announced amid information that Ukraine may receive approval to use Western missiles to strike deep into Russia. The Kremlin stated that the amendments could be seen as a signal to Kyiv's allies, warning of "the consequences of participating in an attack" on the Russian Federation by "various means, not necessarily nuclear ones."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for condemning Putin's nuclear rhetoric and described the doctrinal changes as "the height of irresponsibility." Similar statements were made by EU foreign policy representative Peter Stano, who noted that Putin's "unacceptable behavior," which shows his "true face" to the world, is concerning.