"Russia's strategic nuclear force exercise is to send a clear signal to NATO : Our nuclear force is in a state of combat readiness and is ready to attack Russia's enemies at any time."
On the 26th local time, Russia held a large-scale strategic nuclear force exercise code-named "Thunder-2022". Russian President Putin observed in the command room of Kremlin and listened to reports from the Minister of Defense and the Russian Chief of General Staff. Prior to this, NATO had already participated in the "First Noon" nuclear deterrence exercise that 14 countries began last week, and the exercise will continue until the 30th of this month. Russia's "Prime de Truth" said that Russia's strategic nuclear force exercises send a clear signal to NATO: our nuclear force is in a state of combat readiness and is ready to attack Russia's enemies at any time. The United States and the West insist on adding fuel to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict by providing military aid, increasingly laying a dangerous lead for the direct conflict between Russia and NATO. The reversal plot surrounding a joint letter exposes the bizarre atmosphere of the conflict in US politics against Russia and Ukraine. On the 25th, due to fierce criticism, 30 Democratic liberal lawmakers had to quickly withdraw the joint letter to President Biden the day before. They originally urged the Biden administration to seek a diplomatic solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Russian President Putin observed Russia's strategic nuclear force exercise on the 26th. Source: Russian satellite agency
The United States received the Russian exercise notification
This is the second nuclear force exercise held by Russia this year. The last time was a few days before launching a special military operation against Ukraine in February. Russia's "HTM1 Pravdale " said that the "Thunder-2022" exercise is a response to NATO's "firm noon" nuclear deterrence exercise.
26 On the afternoon of the 26th, Russian TASS successively released videos of the Russian army's "Trial in One" nuclear forces participating in the exercise. The Kremlin said in a notice that the tasks stipulated in the exercise were successfully completed and all missiles hit the target, confirming its performance. The "Russia-24" TV channel said that Russian President Putin listened to reports from Defense Minister Shoigu and Russian Chief of Staff Grasimov in the command room of the Kremlin. Shoigu said that under Putin's leadership, the Russian army conducted large-scale nuclear strike exercises to deal with the "enemy" nuclear strike .
According to the "Prince of the Communist Youth League", the "Thunder-2022" exercise plan will last until the 29th. The Russian Ministry of Defense said that during the exercise, the Russian army will launch land-based and submarine-launched ballistic missiles from the Pleshetsk space launch site and nuclear submarine-launched sea area near of the Kola Peninsula, respectively, to the Kula shooting range located in the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East. Russia's air-based strategic nuclear force - the long-range aviation force will also dispatch strategic bomber to test-fire long-range cruise missiles in the Arctic region.
Prince Truth said that Russia regularly holds "Trial" strategic nuclear force exercises to maintain a high-level combat readiness for strategic nuclear forces and to practice cooperation between different troops. Russia's "avia" news website commented that although Russia informed the exercise to Western countries in advance, NATO still worried because Russia's Tu-160 and Tu-95 strategic bombers and submarine carrying nuclear weapons are both located near the borders of NATO countries.
On the 25th local time, US Department of Defense spokesman Pat Ryder confirmed at a regular press conference that the US has received a notice from Russia that it will hold an upcoming exercise. "As we emphasized before, this is a routine annual exercise in Russia." Ryder said that the United States will continue to pay attention to the matter, but refused to provide more information.
Russian Military Comment Network reported that the US Department of Defense's statement aroused dissatisfaction with Ukraine. Ukraine's Supreme Lada (Parliament) demanded that the Pentagon be responded immediately to Russia's nuclear intentions, saying that "the Russian army may use nuclear exercises to threaten Ukraine's national security." At the same time, Ryder's "calm" statement was also criticized in Polish , and some Polish public opinion threatened that "it was necessary to respond immediately to Russia's nuclear exercises." In response, the report said that Poland forgot that NATO is conducting its own nuclear deterrence exercise.
US President Biden once again escalated his warning to Russia on the 25th.On the same day, when asked about Russia's intention to accuse Ukraine of using " dirty bomb ", Biden said that he is not sure whether Russia is trying to plan a "fake flag operation." But he again warned Russia that using tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine would be an "extremely serious mistake". The New York Times commented that this reflects the growing concerns of Washington and Western allies. Russian "Opinion" reported on the 26th that Putin said at a meeting that day that there was evidence that Kiev planned to use "dirty bombs" to provoke Moscow. Russian President's press secretary Peskov said Russia will continue to convey this message to the international community to awaken the world to stop Kiev's actions.
Russia and Ukraine are preparing for the "most intense battle"?
Later on the 25th local time, Ukrainian Presidential Senior Advisor Alestovic warned in a video that the Russian army was preparing for the "most intense battle" in Khlsong . Reuters, who reported the news, said on the 26th that Khlsson was the first major city to be controlled by the Russian army since Russia launched a special military operation against Ukraine in February. But in recent weeks, the Ukrainian army launched a counterattack. "The situation is clear, the Russian army is gathering. This means that no one is ready to give up," said Alestovic. Instead, the most intense battle will break out in Khlson.
Alestovic did not say when the battle might start. The New York Times reported that Russian soldiers appeared to be digging trenches. Local residents who received the retreat order said Moscow may be preparing for the city war. According to CNN, also on the 25th, the Ukrainian military wrote in the combat log: "According to existing information, the enemy is setting up defensive positions on the left bank of the Dnieper River in Khlsong area. Near the settlement of Gornostaivka, the Russian engineer troops laid mines along the coastline, leaving a small passage for them to retreat from the right bank." CNN said that the Ukrainian army's statement could not be confirmed.
For the reason why the Russian army attaches so much importance to Khlsson, Reuters said that among the four regions that "referendum to Russia" in September, Khlsson can be said to be the most strategically important one, controlling the only land passage to Crimean Peninsula and the estuary of the Dnieper River , which divides Ukraine into two.
Ukrainian State News Agency reported on the 26th that Ukrainian Defense Minister Leznikov said on the 25th that the Ukrainian army controlled all bridges on the Dnieper River, and it was dangerous for the Russian army to stay in Khlsong and engage in street fighting with the Ukrainian army. He said that the Ukrainian army's counterattack against the Khlsong area has slightly slowed down due to rainy days, but the Ukrainian army has liberated more than 90 settlements in the Khlsong area. However, Russian "Opinion" quoted the news from Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, on the 26th, saying that the Ukrainian army used two battalions of troops in the direction of Nikolayev Krivorog to try to attack Brusky and Ishenka in the Khlsson area, but failed.
A joint letter stirred up the United States
In the United States, the battle over the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is also quite fierce. 30 Democratic liberal lawmakers jointly wrote a letter to Biden on the 24th, urging the Biden administration to negotiate directly with Russia, find a solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, and rethink Ukrainian strategy. However, only one day later, the members withdrew the joint letter.
" Washington Post " reported on the 25th that these members of Congress are from the Progressive Caucus of the House of Representatives. They jointly wrote the letter this summer and sent it to White House on the 24th. Once the letter was made public, it triggered a strong backlash from many Democratic members. The group chairman Jayapal said in a statement to withdraw the letter on the 25th: "The letter was drafted a few months ago, and unfortunately, the staff released it without review." She instead emphasized that the Democratic Party has always supported Ukraine in defending democracy and freedom, saying that "diplomacy is just one of the tools."
The US "Political News Network" reported that Jayapal's explanation failed to calm the anger, and several lawmakers publicly criticized the letter. The British "Hotel 1 Guardian " said Jayapal was forced to make clarifications, but some co-signers of the letter defended their actions, believing it reflects the desire to end the conflict through diplomatic means.
According to the US Capitol Hill newspaper, the grassroots organization "Pink Code", a grassroots organization that advocates peace, issued a statement on the 25th, expressing disappointment that the letter was criticized. The organization said: "We live in such a political climate, and peace advocates and policymakers seeking diplomacy have suffered such fierce opposition and political rebound."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova 26 satirized that this is the "mage of democracy" of the United States. Russian "Viewpoint" said that withdrawing the joint letter does not mean that the US Democratic Party has overcome its differences. The Democrats tend to aid Ukraine until Ukraine is completely victorious, but not everyone is willing to bring their careers to the altar of this policy. Vorontov, deputy director of the Department of Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said at the United Nations on the 25th that the United States continues to provide weapons to Kiev, not only causing new casualties, but also brings the situation closer to the dangerous line of direct conflict between Russia and NATO.
Global Times Special Correspondent in Russia Sui Xin
Global Times Reporter Xie Rongbin
Global Times Special Correspondent Chen Xin Liu Yupeng
