Russia Conducts Strategic Deterrence Forces Drills Chaired by Putin

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia has conducted drills of its strategic deterrence forces, and they were chaired by President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

“Under the leadership of the supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, training was conducted with the forces and means of the ground, sea and air components of the nuclear deterrent forces. During the training, practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles took place,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

During the drills, a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome at the Kura missile test range in Kamchatka, the Kremlin added.

“A Sineva ballistic missile was launched from the Barents Sea from the strategic nuclear-powered missile submarine cruiser Tula. Tu-95MS long-range aviation aircraft, which launched air-launched cruise missiles, were also involved in the drills,” the statement read.

During the drills, Putin listened to reports from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.

“The objectives set for the training were fully completed,” the Kremlin added.

Shoigu also said that the Russian air forces will conduct drills of a complex nuclear strike in response to an enemy nuclear strike.

"Supreme Commander-in-Chief, in accordance with the training plan of the Russian armed forces, a training on the management of the Russian armed forces is being conducted under your leadership, during which the tasks of delivering a complex nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear strike will be conducted," Shoigu said, as broadcasted by a Russian TV channel.