Russian and Belarusian armed forces have begun the second phase of tactical nuclear weapon exercises. The Russian Defence Ministry said the exercises are aimed at maintaining the readiness of personnel and equipment of units for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons of two countries, to unconditionally ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Union
State.
In the first stage of the drills, according to an agency report, Russian forces conducted combat training tasks involving the Iskander operational-tactical missile system, specifically equipping launch vehicles with ammunition. Russian Aerospace forces conducted exercises involving the Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles.