In this photo released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Russian air force crew work to prepare a Tu-22M3 bomber for a training mission as part of drills to train the military for using tactical nuclear weapons (AP)

Russia has begun the first stage of military drills for the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, in its southern military district, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

A statement issued by the ministry said "practical testing of the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons" was ordered by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, under the supervision of the General Staff.

The weapons would require special munition and equipment for launch vehicles, it was revealed.

"The personnel of the missile formations of the Southern Military District are completing combat training tasks for obtaining special ammunition for the Iskander operational and tactical missile system, equipping them with launch vehicles and covertly advancing to the designated positional area to prepare for missile launches," the ministry's statement read.

Moreover, Russian aviation was receiving training on aircraft destruction using special combat unit equipment, namely Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

The Defense Ministry affirmed that the drills aimed at maintaining Russia's readiness to secure its sovereignty.

🚨 🇷🇺BREAKING: RUSSIA BEGINS NUCLEAR WEAPONS DRILLS
Russian forces have launched the first phase of high-stakes non-strategic nuclear weapons drills in the Southern Military District.
Exercises include:
- Obtaining and equipping Iskander missiles with special ammunition and… pic.twitter.com/yHRpR2P9BJ
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 21, 2024

Russian nuclear drills response to 'shameless' West: Antonov

Moscow's ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, stated on May 7 that Russia's choice to perform tactical nuclear drills is a required response to the Collective West's "shameless and aggressive" tactics, which threaten Russia and its population.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had previously confirmed Russia's decision to conduct tactical nuclear weapons drills after remarks by certain NATO countries regarding the potential deployment of their troops to Ukraine.

The exercise will be conducted “in the near future” and was ordered by President Vladimir Putin, according to the Defense Ministry on Monday, further citing “provocative statements and threats against Russia by certain Western officials,” such as the potential storing of US nuclear weapons in Poland and recent French remarks of deploying troops and NATO forces to Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced Monday that the drills will take place “in the context of recent belligerent statements by Western officials and sharply destabilizing actions taken by a number of NATO countries," adding that the aim of the US to hit Russia with "strategic defeat" is leading to an open military clash between NATO and Russia.

According to Antonov, the US and its allies are continuously supplying Ukraine with increasingly lethal weaponry aimed to "kill Russian people" and attack the country's territory.

“Step by step they are abandoning their previously declared ‘self-restraints’ in the hybrid war unleashed against us,” he said. “Roughly speaking, they are trying to ‘simmer’ our country.”

This comes after a “new” and “unprecedented” escalation of the situation, Peskov added.