The exercises of the strategic deterrence forces, which will be held on Saturday, February 19, will be led by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Vladimir Putin will be in the situation center, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said, answering journalists' questions.
"Vladimir Putin will most likely be in the situation center. Such exercises, even training launches, are naturally impossible without the head of state... The famous black suitcase, red button and so on," Peskov said.
When asked whether Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will attend the exercises, the press secretary of the Russian leader replied: "If they decide to be there together, then they will be together. But it will depend on the decision of the heads of state."
Peskov also noted that exercises and training launches of ballistic missiles are a fairly regular training process, which is preceded by a series of notifications to different countries through various channels. "No one has any questions or concerns - everyone is notified in advance," he stressed. When asked whether it was not worth postponing these exercises against a general alarming background, the presidential press secretary noted that a number of exercises are underway and these actions are "absolutely transparent and understandable for specialists from other countries, and therefore should not cause anyone concern."
Kira Latukhina
