Keeping your hand on the remote control: what is the reason for training strategic nuclear forces

The training of the Russian strategic nuclear forces under the leadership of Vladimir Putin took place on October 22. As part of the planned event, launches of air-launched intercontinental ballistic and cruise missiles were carried out. A Yars ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome at the Kura test site in Kamchatka, a Sineva ballistic missile was launched from the Barents Sea, and Tu—95MS long-range aircraft carrying out air-launched cruise missiles were also involved in the training. At the same time, experts unanimously declare that such exercises are not a sudden surge in nuclear activity, but a long—term practice and an expected event in the cycle of combat training.

Which weapons have been tested

On October 22, Vladimir Putin led a training session for strategic nuclear forces involving their land, sea and aviation components. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief got in touch from the Kremlin, and the rest of the participants were at the National Defense Command Center of the Russian Federation.

— Today we have a planned, I want to emphasize this, a planned training on the management of nuclear forces, — said the president.

Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, clarified the details of the exercises. Practical actions were performed by the Yars mobile ground-based missile system from the Plesetsk state test cosmodrome, the Bryansk strategic missile submarine of the Northern Fleet from the Barents Sea, as well as Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers from the Ukrainka airfield.

The training made it possible to check the level of training of military authorities, as well as the practical skills of the operational staff in organizing the command of subordinate troops and forces, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The use of key weapons of the Strategic Missile Forces (Strategic Missile Forces) and the naval component, as well as the aviation component, demonstrates the coherence and technological maturity of the entire system, according to military expert Dmitry Kornev.

"In particular, the launch of the Yars mobile ground—based missile system from the Plesetsk cosmodrome confirms its role as the main land—based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)," the specialist noted.

The solid-fuel, three-stage Yars with a separable head of individual guidance carries three to four thermonuclear units with a capacity of 300-500 kt each (for comparison, a charge with a capacity of 15-20 kt was detonated over Hiroshima). It has high survivability due to mobility and serves as the basis of the Strategic Missile Forces' striking power, systematically replacing aging complexes. Given the adoption of the Yars back in 2009 and reports of the imminent completion of its deployment, it is logical to expect the appearance and active implementation of its upgraded versions, Dmitry Kornev told Izvestia.

In the marine component, the R-29RMU2 Sineva submarine—launched ballistic missile (SLBM), a liquid-fueled missile deployed on the Dolphin Project 667BDRM cruisers, remains the most likely key player. With an intercontinental range (over 8,000 km) and the ability to carry up to 10 light high-speed warheads, the Sineva is considered an effective means of naval nuclear deterrence. Despite the gradual replacement of these missiles with more modern Bulava submarines of the Borey project, Sineva and its carriers will obviously serve in combat at least until 2030, which confirms its potential after the modernization.

— The greatest secrecy traditionally surrounds the use of the aviation component. The lack of detailed information about the missiles launched from the Tu-95MS strategic bomber suggests that these are strategic cruise missiles. The most modern of them are the X—101 (non-nuclear) or its nuclear version, the X-102 (with a thermonuclear warhead with a capacity of up to 1 Mt, according to various estimates)," suggested Dmitry Kornev.

Given the general policy of modernizing strategic forces, it is likely that the latest or upgraded versions of these missiles were used for the launches, which explains the increased secrecy of information, he added.

The Strategic Missile Forces currently comprise 95% of new and state-of-the-art equipment. Russia has practically no complexes left that were put into service during the Soviet era. In the next two to three years, the last Soviet heavy liquid-propellant R-36M2 Voevoda ICBMs should be replaced by the promising Sarmat, and it is also planned to rotate the older Topol-M to new Yarsov modifications. As a result, the Strategic Missile Forces will soon be armed with exclusively modern, Russian-designed and manufactured complexes, which not only enhances combat performance, but also strengthens the technological sovereignty of strategic nuclear forces.

The exercises are not directed against the West

Maintaining the combat readiness of the triad of nuclear forces is an issue that, despite any international context, requires increased attention, experts say. The last time a similar training session took place was at the end of October 2024. Thus, this is "not a sudden surge in nuclear activity, but an annual, long-term practice," and "an absolutely routine and expected event in the combat training cycle," Admiral Sergei Avakyants, ex-commander of the Pacific Fleet, said in a conversation with Izvestia.

— The fundamental difference between our exercises and those of Western countries lies in their design. None of our exercises are working out the option of a first strike. The plan always involves a retaliatory or counter-strike. This means that any exercise is based on a scenario in which Russia is subjected to aggression or a nuclear attack, and only then strikes back," he said.

According to him, this is a fundamental position that underlies all our strategic exercises and confirms the position of the military and political leadership. And it does not provide for a preemptive nuclear attack.

However, due to the difficult and unpredictable situation in the world, the ongoing exercises certainly attract increased attention.

— The approach of the Russian Federation is this: we perform all actions on a parity basis. In other words, if the countries of the collective West that possess nuclear weapons intend to work to reduce their nuclear forces, then we will certainly move in the same direction. So far, the destruction of the entire global system of strategic and offensive arms treaties suggests that there is no such intention. And it is not known when the issue of disarmament will become a key one," Oleg Karpovich, Vice rector of the Diplomatic Academy, told Izvestia.

The corresponding opinion is shared by political scientist Dmitry Yelovsky. According to him, such a planned training of nuclear forces is not a threat to Western countries. At the same time, Russia has repeatedly confirmed its commitment to the Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty (START Treaty). Vladimir Putin said at the end of September, in particular, that the Russian Federation, "in order not to provoke a further strategic arms race," is ready to comply with the START treaty for another year, which expires on February 5, 2026. However, provided that the United States acts in a similar way.

— We consistently fulfill our obligations and advocate the extension of the treaty, understanding its importance for maintaining a balance of power and reducing the risk of military conflicts. Such a responsible attitude of Russia towards arms control is another confirmation that strengthening our security does not contradict the interests of global stability, but, on the contrary, contributes to it," concluded Dmitry Yelovsky.

Recall that at the end of this agreement, the parties will have no documents that would restrain their nuclear arsenals. Donald Trump called the proposal a "good idea." Vladimir Putin instructed relevant agencies to monitor the activities of the United States in relation to the START arsenal. It is known that Vladimir Putin discussed the issue of reducing nuclear arsenals with Donald Trump personally during the summit in Alaska.