Russia raises global tension with a test of a massive nuclear attack

Russia carried out this Wednesday maneuvers of its strategic nuclear forces “Grom” (Thunder) in a new challenge to the West, while on the battlefield the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the southern region of Kherson has slowed down.

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“The objectives set during the exercises of the strategic containment forces have been fully met. All the missiles hit their targets.” reported the Kremlin.

RUSSIA “TESTS” ITS RESPONSE TO A NUCLEAR ATTACK

During the exercises, chaired by videoconference by the Russian president, Vladimir Putina drill of “massive nuclear launch by the strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear attack” was carried out.

Russian strategic forces launched ballistic and cruise missiles from the atomic submarine Tulatwo strategic bombers Tu-95MC and land-based mobile intercontinental missile systems Yardswhich were fired from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

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Sinevá ballistic missiles were also launched from the Barents Sea, in the north of the European part of Russiato the Kurá polygon, on the Kamchatka peninsula, bathed by the Pacific Ocean.

Russian President Vladimir Putin oversees the training of the Strategic Deterrent Forces, troops responsible for responding to threats of nuclear war, on October 26, 2022. (Alexei Babushkin / SPUTNIK / AFP)

These are the first exercises of the Russian nuclear forces since the beginning of the offensive in Ukraine in February.

The previous maneuvers took place days before the start of the Russian military campaign and rehearsed the launch of hypersonic weapons, capable of circumventing any anti-missile shield, according to Moscow.

The Pentagon previously revealed that Russia had informed the United States of its plans, which coincide with the NATO Steadfast Noon nuclear exercises.

AMID FEARS OVER USE OF DIRTY BOMB

The Russian maneuvers are carried out amid fears of the use of a dirty bomb with radioactive elements in Ukraine.

The kremlin He assured this Wednesday that he will continue his diplomatic efforts to warn the international community of the possible use of a dirty bomb by kyiv, since that threat still persists.

“We have information that proves that there is a threat of the use of a dirty bomb by Ukraine. We have information that Ukraine is preparing for such terrorist sabotage.”said the spokesman for the Russian Presidency, Dmitri Peskov.

Also Putin referred today for the first time to the controversy over the possible use of a dirty bomb to point out that “Ukraine’s plans to use” that weapon are known.

kyiv, in turn, continues to categorically deny the Russian accusations and has requested a visit by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to clear up any doubts in this regard.

On October 24, the UN nuclear agency confirmed that it would send a mission of inspectors to two nuclear facilities in Ukraine in the face of Russian accusations, without knowing, for the moment, the date of their arrival in the country.

According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, “Russians often accuse others of what they plan to do themselves.”

THE UKRAINIAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE SLOWS DOWN

Meanwhile, the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine has stabilized and the Russian evacuation from the annexed Kherson region in the face of the Ukrainian advance continues.

According to the Ukrainian Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, quoted by the UNIAN agency, Ukrainian forces have liberated more than 90 towns in the region that Russia joined last month.

At the same time, Reznikov He acknowledged that the Ukrainian counterattack in the south has slowed down due to heavy rainfall in the area.

“Right now, due to the weather conditions, and by that I mean the rains, the counteroffensive has slowed down a bit. But we employ the tactic of liberating our localities step by step and kilometer by kilometer. And we will continue to do so”he pointed.

The acting governor of the region of Kherson appointed by Russia, Vladimir Saldo, reported in turn that since last October 19, some 70,000 people have been evacuated to the left bank of the Dnieper River.

However, he insisted that the Russians are not going to abandon the regional capital. “No one is going to deliver Kherson. The military know what they are doing,” he said, adding that the departure of civilians is necessary to prevent them from finding themselves in the middle of fighting in the area.

ZAPORIJIA, PENDING SITUATION ON THE FRONT

The neighbor Zaporizhiaanother Ukrainian region recently annexed by Russia, is also watching news from the front.

“There are artillery duels. A regrouping of a large number of (Ukrainian) units is observed,” pro-Russian politician Vladimir Rogov acknowledged today.

He added that the Ukrainian command has moved troops from the Kharkov and Dniepropetrovsk fronts, not only to the Khersonbut also to that of Zaporizhia.

Source: Elcomercio