Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin that the exercise was intended to simulate a "massive nuclear strike" by Russia in retaliation for a nuclear attack on the country.
A Russian nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea also launched a Sineva ICBM at the Kura firing range on the far-eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, and Tu-95 strategic fired cruise missiles at practice targets. The Russian drills came as NATO was holding its own annual nuclear exercises in northwestern Europe that will run until October 30. The drills dubbed Steadfast Noon involve around 60 aircraft, including US long-range B-52 bombers and fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, but do not involve any live bombs.A Russian long range bomber during this week's training mission to test nuclear weapons.
The Biden administration said on Tuesday that Russia gave notice it intended to stage routine drills of its nuclear capabilities.
Interesting article from AP. Re: “The Russian nuclear exercise comes amid Moscow's warnings of a purported Ukrainian plot to detonate a radioactive device commonly known as a 'dirty bomb' in a false flag attack to blame Russia” I really hope that’s not true.