Russia holds massive drills of nuclear forces as Ukraine steps up drone attacks

Russia connected Tuesday (May 19, 2026) began monolithic manoeuvres of its atomic forces featuring signifier launches of nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles successful drills that travel amid surge successful Ukrainian drone strikes.

The three-day workout volition impact 64,000 troops, implicit 200 rocket launchers, much than 140 aircraft, 73 aboveground warships and 13 submarines, including 8 equipped with nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Defence Ministry said.

The manoeuvres volition absorption connected the “preparation and usage of atomic forces nether the menace of aggression,” the ministry said.

The drills volition besides signifier practice with Belarus, a neighbour and state that hosts Russian atomic weapons.

Russian arsenals successful Belarus see its latest intermediate scope nuclear-capable Oreshnik rocket system.

The manoeuvres travel arsenic Ukraine has sharply intensified its drone attacks against Russia, including a play barrage connected Moscow's suburbs that killed 3 and damaged respective buildings and concern facilities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly reminded the satellite astir Moscow's atomic arsenals aft sending troops into Ukraine successful February 2022 to effort to deter the West from ramping up enactment for Kyiv.

The caller attacks person made it harder for officials successful the Kremlin to formed the struggle successful Ukraine — present successful its 5th twelvemonth — arsenic thing truthful distant that it doesn't impact the regular routines of Russian civilians.

The workout unfolded arsenic Mr. Putin connected Tuesday (May 19, 2026) is starting a two-day sojourn to China.

Last week, helium praised a palmy trial launch of the caller Sarmat ICBM, which is acceptable to regenerate aging Soviet-built atomic missiles.

Russian hawks agelong person urged the Kremlin to respond to the increasing Ukrainian attacks by striking Kyiv's allies successful Europe with accepted weapons, arguing that European NATO members wouldn't situation to retaliate and participate a nonstop subject struggle with the world's largest atomic power.

Last month, the Defence Ministry published a database of factories successful Europe that it said were progressive successful producing drones and their components for Ukraine.

It warned that attacks connected Russia involving drones manufactured successful Europe are fraught with “unpredictable consequences.”