MOSCOW. Oct 29 (Interfax) - Russia's Armed Forces are practicing a massive nuclear strike with strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear strike, during a training session supervised by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said.
"Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, in accordance with the Russian Federation Armed Forces' training plan, a training session is taking place under your supervision in controlling the Russian Federation Armed Forces, during which they will practice the tasks of carrying out a massive nuclear strike with strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear strike," Belousov said.
The training session "involves a Pacific Fleet strategic-purpose missile submarine, the Yars mobile ground missile system of the Strategic Missile Forces, a Northern Fleet strategic-purpose missile submarine and two [Tupolev] Tu-95MS strategic long-range bombers," Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Putin announced yet another training session of strategic deterrence forces. The use of nuclear weapon remains a measure of last resort in providing security, he said.
During the training session, the forces carried out practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles, the Defense Ministry said later.