MOSCOW
President Vladimir Putin has overseen a military exercise involving Russia’s nuclear forces amid escalating tensions over Ukraine.
Putin said the exercise had been planned back in November. He was speaking today in televised remarks from the Defense Ministry’s headquarters where he oversaw the exercise along with leaders of several ex- Soviet nations which are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
He said that the maneuvers involved the military across the entire Russian territory, including the nation’s nuclear forces.
Putin was quoted as saying by Russian news wires that the exercises simulated dealing a massive retaliatory nuclear strike in response to an enemy attack — an unusually blunt statement that reflected tensions with the West running high over Ukraine.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less