Russian Iskander mobile ballistic missiles, during military training. Image: EFE file
Russia said on Wednesday that its forces had rehearsed a simulation of launching a nuclear -capable missile in the western enclave of Kaliningrad, in the midst of his military campaign in Ukraine.
The announcement comes on the 70th day of Russia’s military action, which has left thousands dead (5,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to kyiv) and more than 13 million displaced, in the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.
After sending troops to Ukraine in February, Russian President Vladimir Putin made lingering threats suggesting his willingness to use his country’s tactical nuclear weapons.
Launch of a Russian missile of the Iskander-K type. Image: AFP file
On Wednesday during military exercises in the Baltic Sea enclave, located between Poland and Lithuania, Russia rehearsed “electronic launches” simulation from your system Iskander mobile ballistic missilesnuclear-capable, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Russian forces have carried out one and multiple attacks on targets that mimic missile launch systems, airstrips, protected infrastructure, military equipment and command posts of a simulated enemy, according to the statement.
After the “electronic” launch, military personnel carried out maneuvers to change their position to prevent “a possible retaliatory attack”, the Russian ministry added.
Radiation and chemical contamination
Combat units also practiced “actions on radiation conditions and chemical contamination”.
More than 100 soldiers participated in the trials.
Russia put it the nuclear forces are on alert shortly after Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24.
Russian Iskander missile launcher. Image: EFE file
The Kremlin leader warned of swift retaliation if the West intervened directly in the Ukrainian conflict.
“If someone, I insist, is about to intervene in ongoing events and create unacceptable strategic threats to Russia, they should know that our response attacks will be lightning fast,” he said. Putin assured, at the end of April, during an intervention. in front of the Council of Parliamentarians at St. Petersburg.
Observers have noticed that in recent days Russia’s state television has tried to use nuclear weapons. become more publicly acceptable.
“Within two weeks we heard that on our television screens nuclear silos need to be opened“, said journalist Dmitry Muratov, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, on Tuesday.
Will a formal declaration of war come?
Is it possible that Russia is preparing the population for a formal declaration of war on Ukraine on May 9, when the army will parade through Moscow on a new anniversary of victory against the Nazis in World War II?
Russia said it was “stupid”. And he continues to refer to his piracy in Ukraine as a “special operation.”
But Western officials think President Vladimir Putin could use Russia’s annual Victory Parade on May 9 to announce the escalation of military action.
In the days leading up to the invasion on Feb. 24, Russian officials lined up to ridicule suggestions of an impending invasion as “Western hysteria and propaganda.” No one believed in a Russian invasion. They all denied it. And it finally happened.
attacked by Russia, surprisingly even many Ukrainians.
Yes, Russia should be expected to make some successful announcements of goals achieved (true or imagined), the BBC writes today.
NATO is likely to be blamed for Russia’s slow advance in the Donbas and is likely to have further warnings to the West to stop helping Ukraine defend itself, he added.
Whatever happens on May 9, it is hard to see this war ending any time soon.
Clarín newsroom with information from AFP and BBC News
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Source: Clarin
