PAROMITA DAS
New Delhi, 19th Feb. In the midst of on-going border tensions with Ukraine, Russia announced the deployment of a “strategic deterrence force” under the command of Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin.
Russia’s defense ministry stated that “ballistic and cruise missiles” would be launched during the drills, adding that the “strategic deterrence force drills” were scheduled in advance.
The current Russian drills aim to demonstrate the “reliability of strategic nuclear and conventional forces’ weaponry,” with combat teams, ships, and strategic missile carriers in action, according to the defense ministry.
The drills will include all “three components” of the strategic nuclear forces, as well as the aerospace force, the southern military district, the strategic missile force, and the Northern and Black Sea fleets.
According to Russia’s TASS news agency, as part of the drills, Russian forces would launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) towards the Kura testing ground in Kamchatka, Russia’s Far East.
Russia said this week that it would withdraw some troops from Ukraine’s border who was participating in a military exercise with Belarus. The Russian defense ministry also said mid-week that forces participating in a military exercise in Crimea were being sent back to the barracks, though it said the warplanes were being redeployed to other regions for drills.
“Putin will almost certainly be at Russia’s “situation centre” to supervise nuclear drills. Such drills, and even training launches, are impossible without the head of state,” the Kremlin claimed, adding that “ballistic missile training launches constitute a routine training process.””
The Kremlin went on to say that its measures were “completely transparent and clear for professionals from other nations” and that they “shouldn’t be a concern to anyone,” adding that no one should be “alarmed” by them.
In the midst of rising tensions, President Biden stated on Saturday that he is “convinced” President Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, adding that Russia might create a phony excuse to go to war.
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