These images purport to show Russian forces carrying out tactical nuclear weapons drills near the Ukrainian border.
The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) released the images on Tuesday reportedly showing a number of military vehicles carrying nuclear weapons to a field and soldiers at an airfield apparently readying a bomber with nuclear warheads.
The Russian MoD said that the video shows the first stage of the exercise and had been carried out in the Southern Military District, which has as its headquarters Rostov-on-Don, which is near the Ukrainian border and which includes parts of Ukraine that Russia is currently occupying.
The footage shows a long column of Russian nuclear-capable launch vehicles driving down a road before deploying their systems in a field.
The video shows the launch vehicles raising their huge missiles into the air before cutting to other vehicles arriving on an airfield, apparently to load a strategic bomber with nuclear warheads.
The images were obtained from the Russian MoD, along with a statement on Tuesday, 21st May, claiming (in English): “In accordance with the instructions of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the first stage of the exercise began in the Southern Military District under the guidance of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces with practical guidance on the training and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.”
The Russian MoD added: “In the course of this stage, missile formations of the Southern Military District train to receive special ammunition for the Iskander operational-tactical missile system, equip launchers with it, and covertly advance to the designated position area for preparations to launch missiles.
“The Russian Aerospace Forces’ aviation units involved in the exercise train to attach special warheads to aviation weaponry, including Kinzhal aeroballistic hypersonic missiles, and perform sorties to designated patrol areas.
“As the Russian Defence Ministry has previously reported, the purpose of the exercise is to maintain the readiness of personnel and equipment of combat units of non-strategic nuclear weapons for a response and with a view to unconditionally safeguarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian State in response to provocative statements and threats made by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
