Russia Conducts Nuclear Missile Tests Amid Rising Tensions with the West

President Putin lowers the threshold for nuclear weapon use as a strategic deterrent against NATO's conventional military advantage.

Russia is testing the readiness of its Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles, capable of reaching U.S. cities with multiple nuclear warheads.
The exercises coincide with NATO's annual nuclear drills and Ukraine's announcement of a 'victory plan' for the ongoing conflict.
President Putin has revised Russia's nuclear doctrine to include scenarios that could prompt nuclear weapon use, warning against Western support for Ukraine.
The Kremlin's nuclear drills are seen as signals to deter deeper Western involvement in the Ukraine war.
Russia's nuclear arsenal remains the largest in the world, with ongoing efforts to modernize its strategic and tactical nuclear capabilities.