Russian president oversees large-scale nuclear exercises amid NATO tensions | DW News

Key Concepts

• Strategic Nuclear Exercises: Large-scale military drills testing the readiness of nuclear forces.
• 12th Gumo: The specialized, elite Russian military unit responsible for the security, maintenance, and operation of nuclear weapons.
• Grom (Storm): The annual Russian strategic nuclear exercise.
• Zapad (West): Long-standing joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus.
• Nuclear Doctrine: The official policy framework governing the conditions under which a state might employ nuclear weapons.
• Tactical vs. Strategic Nuclear Weapons: Tactical weapons are designed for battlefield use, while strategic weapons are intended for long-range, high-impact strikes (e.g., against the U.S.).

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Overview of Russian-Belarusian Nuclear Exercises

Russia is currently conducting significant nuclear readiness exercises in coordination with Belarus. These drills are designed to test the integration of both nations' military forces in the event of a conflict involving nuclear deployment. President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko monitored the maneuvers via video conference, emphasizing that while nuclear use remains an "extreme and exceptional measure," the exercises are necessary for national security.

Scale and Scope of the Drills

According to William Alberque, a senior fellow at the Pacific Forum and former NATO official, these exercises are "extraordinary" compared to standard annual drills.

• Personnel and Hardware: The exercises involve 64,000 ground troops and over 7,800 pieces of armor.
• Integrated Assets: The drills utilize a full suite of military capabilities, including surface ships, aircraft, Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and tactical nuclear weapons.
• Strategic Integration: This marks the first time the heads of state have directly coordinated a joint training exercise of this magnitude, signaling a shift toward full integration of Russian and Belarusian forces for a potential large-scale conflict against NATO.

Readiness of the Russian Nuclear Arsenal

Alberque highlights a critical distinction between the conventional Russian military and its nuclear forces:

• The 12th Gumo: Unlike the broader Russian military, which has faced reports of poor maintenance and low morale, the 12th Gumo is a highly prioritized, elite unit.
• Funding and Training: Since 2000, Putin has prioritized nuclear forces, ensuring they receive superior funding, housing, and specialized training. Consequently, these forces should be considered at the "highest levels of readiness."

Evolution of Nuclear Doctrine

The discussion addresses the perceived "lowering of the threshold" for nuclear use in Russian doctrine:

• Credibility of Threats: Alberque argues that Putin modified Russia’s nuclear doctrine to make his threats more credible during the Ukraine crisis. Previously, the doctrine was restricted to "remote cases," which limited the impact of his rhetoric.
• Elasticity of "Last Resort": While Putin publicly maintains that nuclear weapons are a "last resort," Alberque characterizes this as a cynical and "elastic" concept. Under the current doctrine, the decision to use nuclear weapons rests entirely on Putin’s personal assessment of when they are needed, whether at the beginning, middle, or end of a crisis.

Synthesis and Takeaways

The current exercises represent a significant escalation in military cooperation between Russia and Belarus. By integrating nuclear command structures and rehearsing the use of both tactical and strategic weapons, Russia is signaling a shift toward a more aggressive posture against NATO and the United States. The primary takeaway is that Russia’s nuclear forces remain highly capable and well-funded, and the current doctrine provides the Russian leadership with broad, subjective discretion to deploy nuclear assets, rendering the traditional definition of "last resort" effectively obsolete.