The Russian defense ministry announced that the country's armed forces will carry out exercises of its nuclear forces from May 19 to 21. These nationwide drills are designed to practice the preparation and use of nuclear forces.
The three-day combat exercise will involve more than 65,000 troops and 7,800 types of equipment and weapons. The military activity will feature practice launches of nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.
The drills are taking place as President Vladimir Putin travels to Beijing for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Simultaneously, the exercises occur as Kyiv escalates drone attacks and both Russian and Ukrainian forces carry out fresh cross-border aerial strikes.