Russia Starts Tactical Nuclear Drills, in a Warning to Ukraine's Allies

[sl8]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/world/europe/russia-tactical-nuclear-exercise.html

Russia Starts Tactical Nuclear Drills, in a Warning to Ukraine’s Allies

Moscow has said the exercise is a response to “provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials.”

By Paul Sonne
Reporting from Berlin
May 21, 2024, 3:33 p.m. ET

Russia sent a pointed reminder on Tuesday that it could use battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, releasing video of its forces beginning exercises to practice their use, two weeks after President Vladimir V. Putin ordered the provocative drills.

Video released by the Russian Defense Ministry showed a caravan of military vehicles moving down a wooded road, as well as mobile Iskander missile systems — which can deliver conventional or nuclear explosives — getting into position to launch, with their warheads blurred out. The footage also showed a supersonic strategic bomber armed with missiles and an attack aircraft being prepared for takeoff.†

In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said the exercise, carried out near Ukraine, was aimed at preparing the force to use tactical nuclear weapons. The goal is to “unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state in response to provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials,” the ministry said.

Upon announcing the drills earlier this month, the Kremlin suggested the move was a response to comments by President Emmanuel Macron of France, who refused to rule out sending French troops to Ukraine, and David Cameron, Britain’s top diplomat, who said Ukraine could use British weapons to strike inside Russia.

[...]

[Traurigkeit]

1. Putin must be dying.

He doesn't care what happens next to Russia or anywhere else.
Need to off him prior to the sick ------ ------------ gets anywhere near ordering any thing.

[edhopper]

3. Looking at Russia

it is obvious he doesn't care. He is in a long line of Russian leaders who haven't cared.

[edhopper]

2. Biden needs to make a call

"Hello Vlad, don't think we don't always know where you are. The first nuke you use, the second comes down on your location."

[Red Mountain]

4. Rattle away.....

the day Putin uses his smallest battlefield nuke, Russia loses.

NATO needs to send noncombat troops to back up the Ukrainians now, not when it is too late to avoid an escalation.

Proxy war bullshit is just that, bullshit.

We're standing the Ukrainians up like a punching bag to protect the West and it won't last forever.

Barring the violent overthrow of Putin Russia has the resources to win a war of attrition against Ukraine even if their losses are 10x those of the Ukrainians.

[marble falls]

5. If they maintain nukes the way they maintain their tanks, the Russin people are in more danger than anyone else.

[Lovie777]

6. Putin attacks an independent country............................

because Russia wants to infuse it back under Russian control while causing deaths, injuries and destroying lands, stealing it's people, gains, etc. and Putin is mad at Western leaders.

Ukraine for the win.

[bluestarone]

7. If the russian people don't want war, then

The russian people need to stop this monster soon