Trump Steps Aside! Putin Announces a 3-Day Nuclear Live-Fire Drill

Trump Steps Aside! Putin Announces a 3-Day Nuclear Live-Fire Drill

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Russian armed forces have begun a three-day nuclear drill involving thousands of troops across the country. This comes as Ukrainian drone strikes intensify and President Vladimir Putin travels to China.

Throughout his more-than-four-year campaign in Ukraine, Moscow has showcased its nuclear arsenal and repeatedly threatened to use it. The drills also come several months after the last nuclear arms control pact between Russia and the United States collapsed, and amid a series of new remarks by Putin praising Moscow’s nuclear might.

‘From 19 to 21 May 2026, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will conduct exercises on the readiness and use of nuclear forces if faced with an act of aggression,’ the defence ministry said, quoted by AFP, Tuesday 19 August 2026.

With the end of the New START treaty with Washington in February officially freeing the two largest nuclear powers from a number of restrictions, the drills will involve more than 65,000 troops and 7,800 types of equipment and weapons, including more than 200 missile launchers.

‘Aircraft, ships, submarines, and nuclear submarines will all take part,’ it added.

The ministry said they would also conduct ballistic missile and cruise missile launches. The drills will also address issues related to joint training and the use of nuclear weapons deployed within the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

Russia has placed nuclear-capable missiles, the Oreshnik, with its ally Belarus, which borders NATO. Moscow announced the start of the drills several hours before Putin was scheduled to be in China for a two-day visit.