Russian strategic deterrence forces will hold exercises on February 19, the Ministry of Defense announced on Friday. The drills, which will include launches of ballistic and cruise missiles, will be held amid concerns of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The exercises will be overseen by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the ministry added. It stressed the drills will be taking place according to a previously established schedule "to test the readiness of military command and control bodies, launch crews, crews of warships and strategic missile carriers, as well as the reliability of weapons of strategic nuclear and non-nuclear forces," according to Interfax.
