MOSCOW. May 21 (Interfax) - The first stage of an exercise raising the preparedness of the Russian non-strategic nuclear forces has begun in the Southern Military District, and engagement of Iskander and Kinzhal systems is being practiced, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"On the orders from the supreme commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces, the first stage of the exercise has begun in the Southern Military District under the supervision of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff to practice preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons," the ministry said.
At this stage, missile formations of the Southern Military District practice acquiring specialized warheads for Iskander short-range missile systems, installing them in delivery vehicles, and secretly deploying to the designated position area to prepare for missile launches, it said.
"Personnel of air force units of the Russian Aerospace Forces participating in the exercise practice installing specialized warheads in airborne delivery vehicles, including Kinzhal aeroballistic hypersonic vehicles, and deploying to designated patrol areas," the ministry said.
As the ministry said earlier, the exercise aims "to maintain the readiness of troops and hardware from units operating non-strategic nuclear weapons to react and fully provide the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state in response to provocative statements and threats to the Russian Federation coming from certain Western officials."