Moscow: The Russian military has informed that under President Vladimir Putin’s leadership, the country exercised its nuclear triad. During the tests, missiles with nuclear warheads were said to have been successfully fired from a submarine, ground facility and bombers. Only a few months ago, Russia announced a new nuclear deterrent policy where it warned any conventional attack would be retaliated to with a nuclear response. Taking the events into consideration, the tests assume much significance.  

On Wednesday, the Russian military released videos and photographs that provide details on tests determining the effectiveness of the nuclear triad. Units from the strategic nuclear forces had participated in the drills. An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was launched from the nuclear-powered Delta-IV class submarine ‘Karelia’ in the Barents Sea. The Russian Defence Ministry informed that another intercontinental missile was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome ground facility. The ministry also reported that long-range nuclear-powered cruise missiles were successfully fired from Russia’s Tu-160 and Tu-95 bombers from the Engels and Ukrainka airfields.  

The tests were carried out under President Putin’s command, where all missiles successfully hit set targets. Last months, reports revealed Russia had tested anti-satellite weapons and advanced hypersonic missiles. Before that, at the start of October, the country had tested hypersonic missiles. The successive tests are pointing towards Russia’s aggressive defence policy.  

Russia’s new policy is believed ascribed to the aggressive steps taken by the US towards its military preparedness in the past few years. Russia has repeatedly stated that the US missile defence system stationed close to its borders, consistently growing military deployments and space-based weapons posed a significant threat to it. Besides, Russia had even fired a barrage of criticism against the US SM-3 ballistic missile tests conducted in the last month.  

In the past two years, Russia has been consistently testing advanced nuclear weapons as also the latest variants of missiles. The tests gained momentum after the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces or INF treaty between the US and Russia came to an end last year. Also, the New START treaty between the two is set to expire next year, and Russia has said it was looking forward to renewing it before that. However, analysts claim Russia may take an adamant stance on the matter given the possible transfer of power in the US. 

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