The armed forces are practicing the defense of the Union State against the background of the unprecedented expansion of the alliance and the threats of European politicians
On May 19, Russia and Belarus began three-day exercises on the preparation and use of strategic nuclear forces. The maneuvers are taking place simultaneously with the official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China, which, according to experts interviewed by Izvestia, demonstrates the stability of the strategic forces management system even when the Supreme Commander is outside the country. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, more than 7,8 thousand pieces of equipment, 13 submarines and over 140 aircraft are involved in the exercises. The verification of all components of the nuclear triad should confirm the readiness of Moscow and Minsk to jointly defend the borders of the Union State, as well as become a signal for NATO countries against the background of the ongoing expansion of the alliance.
The signal from Beijing
According to military expert Dmitry Kornev, it is no coincidence that the exercises coincided with Putin's visit to China — this is not just a test of combat training, but also a signal to Western countries.
"The presence of the Supreme Commander abroad does not create any obstacles to control over the nuclear arsenal," the expert noted. — Our modern management system of strategic nuclear forces completely eliminates the appearance of "blind spots". Technical means allow you to give any orders from anywhere in the world — whether on board an airplane, in the air or outside the territory of the Russian Federation. Moreover, testing communication channels in such conditions can become one of the key, though not publicized, elements of verification.
Photo: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
Image source: iz.ru
Contrary to speculation about "surprise," the Kremlin's tactics in matters of strategic stability remain transparent. The likely enemy received advance notification of the planned launches through closed diplomatic channels between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the US State Department. Even with the START Treaty frozen, mutual information obligations are strictly fulfilled, military expert Viktor Litovkin added.
In addition, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus confirmed that the exercises are planned.
Verification of the nuclear Triad
According to official data from the Russian Ministry of Defense, over 64,000 personnel, more than 7.8 thousand pieces of equipment, over 200 missile launchers, more than 140 aircraft, 73 surface ships, and 13 submarines are involved in the exercises.
Experts expect that during the maneuvers, combat training launches of missiles will be conducted at internal Russian training grounds.
Dmitry Kornev predicts the launch of the Yars mobile ground complex from the Plesetsk cosmodrome at the Kamchatka Kura test site. The naval scenario, in his opinion, involves the use of Bulava or Sineva ballistic missiles from submarines, as well as the use of Kalibr cruise missiles in nuclear equipment. In the air, crews of long-range Tu-95MS or Tu-160M bombers will practice launches of high-precision X-102 missiles.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
"The simultaneous deployment of 13 submarines, including eight strategic missile carriers and five multi—purpose nuclear submarines, shows the highest combat readiness," Viktor Litovkin said. — Multi-purpose boats protect strategic cruisers and ensure their stealth. The presence of Zircon hypersonic missiles and Onyx cruise missiles in their arsenal makes it possible to reliably repel an attack by any forces, including aircraft carrier groups.
Earlier, the commander of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Federation, Sergei Karakayev, reported to the head of state on the successful test of the Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile. Vladimir Putin called this complex the most powerful in the world, adding that its capabilities are more than four times higher than their Western counterparts.
Response to the "military Schengen" and violations of the NPT
Experts stressed that the current maneuvers were a natural reaction to the activity of NATO. Military expert Vadim Kozyulin recalled the establishment of the so-called "military Schengen" near the Russian borders, the creation of logistics centers for the rapid transfer of troops and the expansion of the alliance at the expense of Finland and Sweden. European ministers are making direct threats against Kaliningrad, and inside the bloc they are openly discussing the inevitability of a direct clash with Russia in the perspective of 2028-2030.
In these circumstances, the fact that Moscow and Minsk are working out joint tasks with nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus is logical and justified. The Allied forces must clearly understand how to act in the event of a critical escalation, and be able to use these weapons in practice to protect their borders. The involvement of the forces of the Leningrad and Central Military Districts is determined by geography: it is in the western and northwestern directions that NATO is most intensively building up forces, Kozyulin said.
Photo: Global Look Press/Soeren Stache
Image source: iz.ru
— The West is beginning to consider the practical involvement of the alliance in the confrontation. If NATO countries directly enter the Ukrainian conflict, it will inevitably escalate into a nuclear phase. We must be ready for this. At the same time, it is not worth speculating on this topic. Our doctrine is open, and all the conditions for a retaliatory step are clearly spelled out there," the expert concluded.
There is no reason to expect a mirror response from NATO, since the alliance currently does not have a comparable consolidated potential. The European nuclear segment is very limited: the UK is completely dependent on American Trident missiles, while France has traditionally kept itself apart, Viktor Litovkin said.
At the same time, the bloc itself systematically violates the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons by deploying about 150 tactical US aerial bombs in Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Turkey with the training of local pilots. Against this background, the Russian defensive exercises look fully justified.
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| Russian-Belarusian nuclear forces exercises. |
| Source: iz.ru |
Julia Leonova
Andrey Buevich
