Putin Oversees Large-Scale Nuclear Forces Drill

Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw a coordinated, large-scale exercise of the country's strategic nuclear forces across land, sea and air, with reported launches of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from Plesetsk, a Sineva missile from a nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea, and cruise missiles fired from strategic bombers. The Kremlin said the drills tested command preparedness and operational control and released footage of General Valery Gerasimov reporting to Putin, though Moscow did not disclose the full number of systems deployed or say whether all tasks were completed. The manoeuvre ran parallel to NATO’s Steadfast Noon nuclear deterrence exercise, which involved dozens of aircraft and roughly 2,000 personnel. Reuters and other outlets noted the drills occurred amid diplomatic uncertainty over a proposed Putin‑Trump summit and as Ukraine reported heavy Russian missile and drone attacks, underscoring heightened East‑West tensions during Russia’s war in Ukraine.