Trending Now - Russia Launches Extensive Nuclear Exercises Amid Ukraine Tensions
WHO:
ABC News - The Russian military is conducting the drills.
NBC News - Russian President Vladimir Putin is involved in the context of the drills and is starting a two-day visit to China.
WHAT:
ABC News - The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Russian arsenals in Belarus include its latest intermediate range nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system.
NBC News - The drills will also practice cooperation with Belarus, a neighbor and ally that hosts Russian nuclear weapons.
ABC News - Russia has begun massive maneuvers of its nuclear forces featuring practice launches of nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.
NBC News - The three-day exercise will involve 64,000 troops, over 200 missile launchers, more than 140 aircraft, 73 surface warships, and 13 submarines, including eight armed with nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles.
CBS News World - The drills are described as major nuclear weapons drills involving thousands of troops across the country.
WHERE:
ABC News - The drills are taking place in Russia and involve cooperation with Belarus, which hosts Russian nuclear weapons.
WHEN:
ABC News - The drills are scheduled to last for three days.
NBC News - Putin's two-day visit to China is mentioned in relation to the timing of the drills.
NBC News - In 2024, Putin adopted a revised nuclear doctrine.
WHY:
ABC News - The recent attacks have made it harder for officials in the Kremlin to cast the conflict in Ukraine as something so distant that it doesn’t affect the daily routines of Russian civilians.
ABC News - The maneuvers are focused on the “preparation and use of nuclear forces under the threat of aggression” amid a surge in Ukrainian drone strikes.
NBC News - The drills come as Ukraine has sharply intensified its drone attacks against Russia, including a recent barrage on Moscow's suburbs that killed three and damaged several buildings and industrial facilities.
HOW:
NBC News - The exercise unfolded as Putin is starting a two-day visit to China.
ABC News - The drills will practice cooperation with Belarus and involve the use of various military assets, including missile launchers and submarines.
(UPDATED May 19, 2026 23:20 UTC)
The Russian Defense Ministry has announced that its arsenals in Belarus now include the latest intermediate range nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system, coinciding with military drills designed to enhance cooperation with Belarus, a neighboring ally that hosts Russian nuclear weapons. This development comes as officials in the Kremlin face challenges in portraying the conflict in Ukraine as a distant issue that doesn't impact the daily lives of Russian citizens. The military exercise is taking place during President Putin's two-day visit to China.
--
(UPDATED May 19, 2026 13:54 UTC)
The Russian military has begun massive maneuvers of its nuclear forces, featuring practice launches of nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles, with a total of 64,000 troops participating alongside over 200 missile launchers, more than 140 aircraft, 73 surface warships, and 13 submarines, including eight armed with nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles. These drills, described as major nuclear weapons exercises, are taking place in Russia and involve cooperation with Belarus, which hosts Russian nuclear weapons, and are scheduled to last for three days. The maneuvers are focused on preparing for the use of nuclear forces amid heightened tensions, particularly following a surge in Ukrainian drone strikes, including a recent attack that resulted in casualties and damage in Moscow's suburbs.