Russia鈥檚 president Putin orders nuclear drills with troops near Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to hold nuclear weapons drills involving the navy and troops based near Ukraine. (Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
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  • Putin has upped his nuclear rhetoric since the Ukraine conflict began, warning in his address to the nation in February there was a 鈥榬eal鈥� risk of nuclear war

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to hold nuclear weapons drills involving the navy and troops based near Ukraine, the defense ministry said Monday.
Putin has upped his nuclear rhetoric since the Ukraine conflict began, warning in his address to the nation in February there was a 鈥渞eal鈥� risk of nuclear war.
鈥淒uring the exercise, a set of measures will be taken to practice the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,鈥� the defense ministry said.
Non-strategic nuclear weapons, also known as tactical nuclear weapons, are designed for use on the battlefield and can be delivered via missiles.
The ministry said the exercises would take place 鈥渋n the near future鈥� and were aimed at ensuring Russia鈥檚 territorial integrity in the face of 鈥渢hreats by certain Western officials.鈥�
Aircraft and naval forces will take part, as well as troops from the Southern Military District, which borders Ukraine and includes the occupied Ukrainian territories, it said.
Western officials have become increasingly alarmed by the Kremlin鈥檚 nuclear rhetoric during the offensive in Ukraine, with Putin frequently invoking Russia鈥檚 nuclear doctrine.
Last year Russia ditched its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and pulled out of a key arms reduction agreement with the United States.