Russia has initiated the third phase of its tactical nuclear weapons exercises, as announced by the Ministry of Defense. This phase focuses on training troops from the Southern and Central military districts to deploy dummy warheads for the Iskander-M missile system and covertly move them to launch sites. The drills aim to maintain the combat readiness of personnel and equipment involved in the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. The exercises began in May, with Belarus participating in the second phase in June. Russia claims that these drills are a response to perceived escalations by the U.S. and its European allies in Ukraine. President Putin has emphasized the potential use of nuclear arms for national defense, a statement viewed skeptically by the West.