Moscow has begun exercises to train and use non-strategic nuclear weapon, according to Russian media, while the Pentagon said Russia had launched an anti-satellite vehicle.
The first stage of exercises with practical training of issues of preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons has begun in Russia, the Russian Defence Ministry said in an official statement. It also added:
In accordance with the instruction of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the first stage of exercises with practical training of issues of preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons has begun in the Southern Military District under the leadership of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
As part of the drill, missile units are practising preparation for launching missiles of the Iskander operational-tactical missile system, while personnel of the Air and Space Forces aviation units will equip aviation means of defeat, including hypersonic Kinzhals, with special charges and will head to patrol areas.
Military officials said the exercises are being conducted in response to provocative statements by Western officials and are aimed at maintaining response readiness and ensuring the country’s sovereignty.
Russia in space
Russia has put another anti-satellite spacecraft back into Earth orbit, capable of threatening US and European satellites, Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder told ABC News.
The general spoke at a briefing where he answered journalists’ questions, including those regarding the launch of the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. He noted that the Pentagon does not reliably know what kind of vehicle Russia put into orbit on May 16, but assumes that it is another anti-satellite weapon capable of threatening spacecraft of the US and European allies. Ryder said:
What I’m tracking here is on May 16, as you highlighted, Russia launched a satellite into low Earth orbit that we that we assess is likely a counter space weapon presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit.
He also added that there is a US “government” satellite in the same orbit. At the moment, the US space forces are closely monitoring the actions of the Russian vehicle in space.
