Russia practices fictitious nuclear missile strikes in Kaliningrad

Russian troops practiced with nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania, on Wednesday. Russia’s defense ministry said in a statement that it simulated launches of the ballistic missiles from an Iskander weapon system.

The Russian troops practiced, among other things, with simulated attacks on airports and military command posts of a fictitious enemy, the army writes. The exercise involved more than a hundred military personnel, who were also trained to quickly change positions in the event of a retaliatory attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced shortly after the start of the invasion of Ukraine that he would prepare Russia’s nuclear weapons as a deterrent. The Kremlin has warned of “lightning-fast” retaliation if the West becomes directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine.

AFP news agency writes that in recent days there has been more attention on Russian state television about the use of nuclear weapons.

The Baltic Sea exercise comes just days before May 9, a major holiday in Russia to celebrate the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Rehearsals were held in Moscow on Wednesday for the major military parade in Moscow to take place on that day.