htmlOn the 126th, Russia's Pleshetsk Space Launch Site tested a "Yars" intercontinental ballistic missile as part of Russia's nuclear exercise. On October 26th local time, the Russian army held a strategic deterrent exercise and completed all exercise tasks. Russian President Putin directed and observed the exercise. While the Russian army was conducting military exercises, NATO also launched a nuclear deterrence exercise code-named "First Noon" in Europe.
Just as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict was at a critical stage, Russia said there was evidence that Ukraine was developing and planning to launch an attack using the " dirty bomb ", but the allegation was firmly denied by Ukraine and Western allies.
For a moment, the conflict haze shrouded over the European continent seemed to be getting heavier and heavier.
Russia and NATO simultaneously conduct nuclear strike military exercises
According to Kremlin news, the Russian strategic nuclear weapons force conducted an annual war exercise code-named "Thunder-2022" from October 26 to 29. The Russian Armed Forces conducted a strategic deterrence force exercise with a land-based, sea-based and air-based trinity. The Strategic Rocket Force completed live-fire training for strategic ballistic missiles and cruise missile . All missiles hit the target, the relevant technical parameters were normal, and the exercise mission was completed smoothly.
Video played by Russian state television station shows that Putin watched the military exercise through a huge TV screen. The scene showed that Russian Defense Minister Shoigu reported to Putin that the purpose of the exercise was to train Russia's strategic nuclear power to deal with possible nuclear weapons attacks by the enemy. According to the Russian Chief of Staff of the Russian Army, Gerasimov, , the Russian army launched the "Yars" land-based intercontinental ballistic missile and the "Blue Sky" submarine-launched ballistic missile during the exercise, and launched cruise missiles in the air using the Tu-95 strategic bomber.
html On 117, NATO also started a nuclear deterrence exercise code-named "First Noon", which will last for two weeks and end on October 30. There is a time overlap between the Russian military exercises and NATO exercises. It is reported that 60 nuclear tactical aircraft of the NATO armed forces are mounted with small-equivalent nuclear bombs to perform exercise missions. It is worth noting that in addition to the fighter jets from NATO countries that have been deployed in Europe, the United States also sent two B-52 strategic bombers from its homeland to Europe for the exercise for the first time.Media interpreted that the US NATO wants to show strength to Russia under the name of "nuclear deterrence exercise", which shows strong targeting. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand that Russia holds a strategic deterrent exercise at this time. It can not only counter NATO's nuclear deterrence exercise, but also demonstrate its military capabilities and curb NATO's possible risky actions.
Russia and the West have different opinions on the accusations of "dirty bombs"
At present, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is in a critical stage, and the offensive and defensive battle in the area of Khlsong has actually begun and is expanding. The recent allegations of Russia and Ukraine that the other party may use "dirty bombs" or nuclear weapon are heating up, which has also aggravated the concerns of all parties about the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
"Dirty Bomb" refers to a conventional explosive device containing radioactive materials, with the purpose of contaminating surrounding areas with radioactive materials. In recent days, Russian officials have accused that Ukraine is planning and developing and preparing to use "dirty bombs". The Russian Defense Minister recently had telephone exchanges with colleagues from many countries, and the issue of "dirty bombs" is one of the core contents. On the 25th local time, at the request of Russia, the UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting on Russia's accusation that Ukraine planned to use "dirty bombs", but the result was unknown.
According to existing information, Russia and Western countries have obvious differences on this issue. After the UN Security Council closed-door meeting ended on the 25th, Russia's permanent deputy representative to the United Nations Polyansky said that Russia has specific information about Ukraine's relevant scientific institutions that produce "dirty bombs" and has sufficient reason to believe that the use of "dirty bombs" is already in Ukraine's plan, which is very dangerous.
Ukraine and Western allies strongly denied the allegations, expressing suspicion that Russia is using the allegations as an excuse to prepare to escalate the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in some way.
Urban Defense Minister Leznikov recently emphasized that Ukraine has always been very responsible for nuclear security issues, and Ukraine's nuclear facilities are still open to International Atomic Energy Agency . The International Atomic Energy Agency announced on the 24th that it had received a written request from Ukraine and would send a team of experts to relevant Ukrainian agencies to carry out verification activities.
A spokesperson for the US Pentagon said that the US believes that Russia's allegations against Ukraine are completely out of nothing, but he also pointed out that the US has found no sign that Russia has decided or prepared to use nuclear weapons or "dirty bombs." NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg told the media at NATO headquarters on the 26th that the relevant Russian accusations were "absurd" and "blatantly fake."
Russia's series of actions released multiple information
Some comments believe that Russia's series of actions released multiple information, including refuting the Russian nuclear threat theory hyped by Europe and the United States, and emphasizing that Russia is not prepared to use nuclear weapons. On the 25th, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nebianjia sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General, saying that "Russia did not intend to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine in the past and present, and neither the Russian leadership nor the Ministry of Defense talked about the possibility of using such weapons." After the UN Security Council closed-door meeting on the 25th, Polyansky once again emphasized that Russia did not intend to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine in the past and present.
Some media reported that third-party forces are uncertain factors that constitute the nuclear threat . Russia is worried that Ukraine's extreme nationalist forces and international terrorist organizations will use the chaos of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict to create trouble and frame Russia, thereby triggering or escalating larger regional and international conflicts. Putin warned after the strategic deterrent exercise on the 26th that the possibility of conflicts in the world and regions is still high. Putin spoke at the previous CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization summit, saying that some countries are trying to maintain their hegemony in various ways, including acts of destruction, just as the Nord Stream pipeline has taken place.
Europe and the United States have expressed their affirmation for Russia's advance notification of strategic deterrence exercise training. The United States said that relevant Russian notifications will help reduce the risk of external misjudgment. On the other hand, the US still maintains its warning to Russia. US President Biden warned Russia again on the 425th that the use of tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine would be an "extremely serious mistake." It can be seen that the nuclear doubt clouds shrouded over the European continent have not yet dissipated.
Author: Sun Changhong
Editor: Shen Qinhan
Picture: Visual China
