Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw a nuclear military exercise, which included ground, naval, and air maneuvers, aimed at testing the readiness and command of the Russian nuclear triad. The exercises were described by Putin as routine and took place in the presence of the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff. Among the activities carried out were the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile Yars from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome and a Sineva missile from a nuclear submarine.
Additionally, the strategic bombers Tu-95 launched cruise missiles. The Kremlin stated that all objectives of the maneuvers were met, emphasizing the importance of these exercises in the context of tensions with the West. Meanwhile, NATO conducted its own nuclear exercises, and Putin proposed extending the START III treaty with the U.S., which expires in February.