Military analyst Igor Korotchenko stressed that such exercises have not been held for a very long time and their conduct now indicates that the leadership of the Russian Federation does not exclude the worst scenarios for the development of the military-political situation
MOSCOW, May 6. /tass/. The exercises announced by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation with missile formations of the Southern District and the Navy are needed to practice the use of tactical nuclear weapons in the event of the involvement of NATO troops in the conflict in Ukraine and their entry into combat operations against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. This opinion was expressed in a conversation with TASS by military analyst, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko.
"Such exercises are being held for the first time in recent years, they are conditioned by the military-political situation that is developing around the conflict in Ukraine. The intentions of the NATO countries to introduce their military contingents into Ukraine have been announced, which implies a direct military clash with the Russian armed forces. <...> This whole mechanism must be worked out so that, if the situation requires it, we are ready to use tactical nuclear weapons almost without delay and hesitation if the Russian Federation is subjected to aggression from the parties of the North Atlantic Alliance. That, in fact, is the main goal and task," Korotchenko said.
He stressed that such exercises had not been held for a very long time and their conduct now indicates that the leadership of the Russian Federation does not exclude the worst scenarios for the development of the military-political situation. "By the very fact of announcing the relevant exercises on the instructions of the Supreme Commander of the Russian Armed Forces, we warn that we are ready for any challenges, threats and the most unfavorable scenarios in which Russia will leave no chance of success for its military opponents," the expert added.
According to Korotchenko, during the exercises, the entire necessary cycle of preparation for the practical use of tactical nuclear weapons will be worked out, which includes the transfer of nuclear warheads of the appropriate class from bases and storages 12 of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to the units that will use them, docking of nuclear warheads with appropriate carriers, working out the mechanism for obtaining sanctions and its confirmation, the introduction of flight missions and the use of nuclear weapons at designated enemy targets and facilities. The expert noted that the announced events will take place without the actual initiation of nuclear warheads, since the exercises are not a combat operation.
Earlier, French leader Emmanuel Macron, in an interview with The Economist magazine, allowed consideration of sending troops to Ukraine in case of Kiev's request, "if Russian forces break through the front line."
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry informed that the General Staff had begun preparations for conducting exercises with missile formations of the southern district with the involvement of aviation and forces of the Russian Navy. They clarified that measures are planned to practice the issues of preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. The defense ministry said that the exercises, among other things, are a response to provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials.
