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

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.

The manoeuvres come as Ukraine has sharply intensified its drone attacks against Russia, including a weekend barrage on Moscow’s suburbs that killed three and damaged several buildings and industrial facilities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly reminded the world about Moscow’s nuclear arsenals after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022 to try to deter the West from ramping up support for Kyiv.

The recent attacks have made it harder for officials in the Kremlin to cast the conflict in Ukraine — now in its fifth year — as something so distant that it doesn’t affect the daily routines of Russian civilians.

The exercise unfolded as Mr. Putin on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) is starting a two-day visit to China.

China denies Xi told Trump that Putin ‘regrets’ invasion of Ukraine

Chinese Foreign Ministry denied suggestions that Mr. Xi told Mr. Trump during his visit that Mr. Putin might “regret” his invasion of Ukraine.

“The information you mentioned does not match the facts and is completely fabricated out of thin air,” the Ministry said in response to a question about the reports.