
Russia conducts surprise nuclear drill, expanding to Belarusian launch sites
Russia launched its largest nuclear exercise in years, mobilizing about 65,000 troops, more than 200 missile launchers, 140 aircraft, 73 surface ships and 13 submarines (including eight strategic submarines) with live ballistic and cruise missiles planned over three days; Belarus joined with its own parallel drills and the Oreshnik missile now based on Belarusian soil. The timing follows a May 12 Sarmat ICBM test and comes as Moscow seeks to project strength ahead of a Putin visit to Beijing, a move some analysts say may pressure NATO and mask weaknesses while Moscow frames the drills as defensive.











