Two days' of large-scale Russian air, sea, and terrestrial military exercises with Belarus got underway Tuesday in preparation to deploy nuclear forces in the event of an "aggression threat." File Photo by Russian Ministry Defense/UPI | License Photo
May 19 (UPI) -- Russia embarked on two days of large-scale air, sea, and terrestrial military exercises with Belarus on Tuesday to practice preparing to deploy nuclear forces in the event of an "aggression threat," Moscow said.
The drills involving 64,000 troops, 7,800 armament pieces, 200 missile launchers, more than 140 aircraft, 73 ships and 13 submarines, including eight strategic nuclear deterrent submarines, will see test-firings of ballistic and cruise missiles across Russia, the state-run TASS news agency said.
The exercise combines the Strategic Missile Force, the Northern and Pacific Fleets, the long-range aviation military command and some military districts with the goal of refining skills and command and control preparedness to implement deterrence, "prevent aggression" and test the ability of forces and logistics to work together to deliver specific goals, said TASS.
"The drills are set to practice readying some of nuclear forces' units and formations for accomplishing assigned objectives and rendering them comprehensive logistical support, and also carrying out test-launches of ballistic and cruise missiles at practice range," the report said.
