Russia’s military conducted a simulated nuclear strike in a drill Wednesday overseen by President Vladimir Putin, hours after the upper house of parliament voted to rescind the country’s ratification of a global nuclear test ban.
The bill to end ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, approved in the lower house last week, will now be sent to Putin for final approval. Putin has said that revoking Russia’s 2000 ratification would “mirror” the stance of the U.S., which signed but did not ratify the nuclear test ban.
State television showed Putin directing the exercise via video call with top military officials.
Russia’s Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu said the purpose of the drills is to practice “dealing a massive nuclear strike with strategic offensive forces in response to a nuclear strike by the enemy.”
Vladimir Putin isn’t close to desperate. All he has to do is declare victory, reality doesn’t matter after all, and then stop talking about it. It’s not like anyone’s going to challenge him on it and go “No Pooters, you lost you dummy.”
The Russian people would just go along with it because it means they no longer will get drafted. They all know it’s propaganda, but they also know what happens if they challenge the propaganda.
The thing about being an armchair strategist is it does involve having even the modicum of common sense.