President Putin Amati Russian Military Nuclear Exercise: Involve Bombing Aircraft, Submarines To Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles

JAKARTA - Russia is holding exercises to deal with nuclear attacks, involving nuclear submarines, strategic bombers to ballistic missiles, amid tensions over allegations of 'dirt bombs'.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remotely observed annual exercises called 'Grom' or 'Thunder', exercises designed to prevent and intimidate enemies.

Russian officials say test launches of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles and cruises have been successful.

"The tasks imagined as long as the training of the strategic prevention forces has been completed in full, all missiles have reached their targets," the Kremlin said in a statement.

Meanwhile, military news channel Zvezda showed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Putin the exercise featured "a massive nuclear attack by strategic offensive forces in response to enemy nuclear attacks."

Russian Military Chief of Staff General Valery Gerasimov told President Putin the drills involved Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines, and Tupolev strategic bombers.

Separately, the Pentagon (United States Ministry of Defense) said the day before Russia had informed of its intention to conduct exercises at a time when NATO was training the use of European-based US nuclear bombs in the annual war games 'Steadfast Noon'.

Russian officials have repeatedly accused Ukraine of using a 'difficult bomb', a bomb mixed with radioactive material. However, the officials did not provide evidence of the allegations.