Putin Says Nuclear Drills Were Pre-Planned Amid Rising US-Russia Tensions
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia’s latest nuclear preparedness exercises had been scheduled in advance, as part of its routine strategic deterrence program. However, this round of drills drew attention for including Tu-95 strategic bombers launching long-range cruise missiles—an escalation in scale rarely seen in recent years. According to Kremlin officials, Gen. Valery Gerasimov,…