Russia Holds Three-Day Nuclear Drill, Deploys Fighter Jets and Submarines

Russia’s military began a nuclear weapons exercise on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, scheduled to last three days. The drill involves thousands of troops from across Russia, as well as fighter aircraft and submarines. The nuclear exercise takes place as Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian territory intensify, and while President Vladimir Putin is en route to China for a state visit. During more than four years of invading Kyiv, Moscow has showcased its nuclear arms and repeatedly threatened to use them. The drill also comes several months after the nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States ended, with Putin praising Moscow’s atomic might. ‘From 19 May to 21 May 2026, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are conducting a drill to prepare and employ nuclear force in the event of an aggressor threat,’ the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement, as reported by AFP on Tuesday, 19 May 2026. The end of the New START treaty, which limited nuclear weapons between Washington and Moscow in February this year, officially released the two largest nuclear powers from several restrictions. The Russian Defence Ministry said the drill involves more than 65,000 troops and 7,800 pieces of equipment and armaments, including more than 200 missile launchers. Fighter aircraft, surface ships, conventional submarines and nuclear submarines will also be involved in the training. The ministry added that it would also conduct tests of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. ‘The exercise will also discuss issues related to joint training and the use of nuclear weapons deployed in the territory of the Republic of Belarus,’ the ministry said in a statement. Russia is known to have placed a nuclear-capable missile, Oreshnik, in Belarus, Moscow’s ally bordering NATO member states. Moscow announced the start of the nuclear drill several hours before Putin was scheduled to be in China for a two-day visit.