Russia has launched massive three-day strategic nuclear exercises involving 64,000 troops, 7,800 military assets, more than 200 missile launchers, 140 aircraft, 73 warships and 13 submarines amid soaring tensions with NATO. The drills, running from May 19 to May 21, are focused on preparing Russian forces to respond to external threats and practice nuclear force deployment under combat conditions. Moscow also confirmed that troops will train on using tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, a NATO-bordering ally. The exercises come just a day after Belarus began its own nuclear drills with Russia, further escalating fears of a wider confrontation between Moscow and the West.
