Russia’s military conducted a simulated nuclear strike in a drill Wednesday overseen by President Vladimir Putin, hours after the upper house of parliament voted to rescind the country’s ratification of a global nuclear test ban.

The bill to end ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, approved in the lower house last week, will now be sent to Putin for final approval. Putin has said that revoking Russia’s 2000 ratification would “mirror” the stance of the U.S., which signed but did not ratify the nuclear test ban.

State television showed Putin directing the exercise via video call with top military officials.

Russia’s Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu said the purpose of the drills is to practice “dealing a massive nuclear strike with strategic offensive forces in response to a nuclear strike by the enemy.”

  • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Russia’s saber rattling has gotten embarrassing. All they have left is to prattle about nukes and meaningless red lines, meanwhile they are losing massive quantities of troops and equipment against a country much smaller than them. Here are just the visually confirmed Russian losses in Ukraine. Every single one of the thousands of tanks and vehicles destroyed has it’s own picture or video. Click them. It’s mind-boggling.

      • Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        actually use one…

        Never going to happen.

        While the Ukraine war is destroying the Russian military and economy, those in power are still living a pretty sweet existence and are not touched by any of it.

        But they are smart enough to know that if they push the big red button, their cushy lives and those of their families are over.

            • Doubletwist@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              There’s a long history of desperate people taking actions that they KNOW will result in their own death/destruction. What makes you think the powers that be in a rapidly failing Russia would never, ever take that chance?

              • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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                1 year ago

                Vladimir Putin isn’t close to desperate. All he has to do is declare victory, reality doesn’t matter after all, and then stop talking about it. It’s not like anyone’s going to challenge him on it and go “No Pooters, you lost you dummy.”

                The Russian people would just go along with it because it means they no longer will get drafted. They all know it’s propaganda, but they also know what happens if they challenge the propaganda.

                The thing about being an armchair strategist is it does involve having even the modicum of common sense.

      • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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        1 year ago

        Russia are currently losing the war to a country smaller than they are if they’re use a nuke they will be at war with all of NATO.

        They would be wiped out even if NATO didn’t respond in kind.