Russia conducts nuclear exercises coinciding with Putin’s visit to China

Yesterday, the Russian army began three-day nuclear exercises, with thousands of soldiers participating in various parts of the country, at a time when Kiev escalated its drone strikes, and hours before President Vladimir Putin arrived in China for a two-day visit.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that, “from May 19 to 21, 2026, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are conducting exercises to prepare and use nuclear forces in the event of a threat of aggression.”

During its ongoing attack on Ukraine for more than four years, Moscow demonstrated its possession of nuclear weapons and repeatedly hinted at using them.

The maneuvers come months after the expiration of the “New START” treaty, signed between Russia and the United States, which aims to limit nuclear proliferation, and also in light of a wave of statements made by Putin about his country’s nuclear capabilities.

In this regard, the Russian Ministry of Defense explained that the expiration of the treaty exempted the two largest nuclear powers in the world (Russia and the United States) from a set of restrictions.

The Ministry stated that the exercises will include the participation of more than 65,000 soldiers and 7,800 units of equipment and weapons, including more than 200 missile launchers, in addition to the participation of aircraft, ships and submarines, including nuclear submarines.

The maneuvers will also include tests of launching ballistic and winged missiles, and will also address issues related to “training and joint use of nuclear weapons deployed on the territory of the Republic of Belarus.”

Russia deployed a missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads known as “Oreshnik” in Belarus.

Putin is scheduled to discuss in Beijing, with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, ways to “strengthen the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation” between Russia and China, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin yesterday.

The announcement of Putin’s visit to China came the day after US President Donald Trump left Beijing last Friday, where he discussed with Xi the files of the wars in Ukraine and Iran, without being able to achieve any significant breakthrough.