In September, Putin lowered the threshold to launch a nuclear strike in Russia’s military doctrine. Analysts said that Russia’s nationwide nuclear test on Tuesday had been expected and planned for several months although, with more nuclear test-firing, there was a sense of increasing nuclear danger.
“Ten days after the US commenced Global Thunder nuclear exercise, Russia said it ‘practised launching a massive nuclear strike’,” said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. “Important to add that these exercises are planned long in advance and not a direct reaction to the other.”
Ukraine is still trying to persuade its Western partners to allow it to fire Western-made long-range missiles at Russia, a move that the Kremlin has warned would trigger a major response.