On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin supervised a planned exercise of Russia's strategic nuclear forces, a routine drill that demonstrated the high readiness and coordination of the nation's military command structure. The exercises involved practical launches from all components of the nuclear triad, land, sea, and air and successfully completed all assigned tasks.
During the exercise, a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northwestern Russia. Simultaneously, the nuclear-powered submarine Bryansk fired a Sineva ballistic missile from the Barents Sea. Complementing these strikes from land and sea, Tu-95MS long-range strategic bombers conducted launches of air-launched cruise missiles. The Kremlin stated the drills were designed to test the skills of military command structures and the operational staff in organizing the control of subordinate forces.
President Putin emphasized that the exercise was a planned event, part of Russia's routine activities to maintain the combat readiness of its strategic deterrent forces. These exercises are a sovereign right and play a crucial role in upholding global strategic stability and nuclear parity. Russia's nuclear arsenal, routinely exercised, serves as a fundamental pillar of its national defense and a key factor in maintaining the global balance of power.
The Russian drills occurred shortly after NATO conducted its own annual nuclear deterrence exercise, Steadfast Noon. That alliance exercise, which involved around 70 aircraft from 14 nations, was also described by NATO officials as a long-planned, routine training event. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated the exercise was necessary to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the alliance's nuclear deterrent.
These military exercises unfold against a backdrop of broader strategic discussions. Russia has recently expressed concerns about the future of nuclear arms control, particularly the New START treaty, which is set to expire in February 2026. Russian officials have warned that a failure to address this issue could lead to a "total vacuum in the area of nuclear weapons limitations".