Russia holds massive drills of nuclear forces as Ukraine steps up drone attacks

Key points

• Russia on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) began massive manoeuvres of its nuclear forces featuring practice launches of nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles in drills that come amid surge in Ukrainian drone strikes.
• 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, the Defence Ministry said.
• The manoeuvres will focus on the “preparation and use of nuclear forces under the threat of aggression,” the ministry said.
• The drills will also practice cooperation with Belarus, a neighbour and ally that hosts Russian nuclear weapons.
• Russian arsenals in Belarus include its latest intermediate range nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system.