Ukraine crisis: Russia’s Putin launches nuclear drills with cruise missiles as tensions soar

The president oversaw drills involving nuclear-capable missiles as the US warned Russian forces were beginning to ‘uncoil and poised to strike Ukraine’

The exercises came as Russian-backed separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine declared a full military mobilisation

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) observes the strategic exercises on screens along with Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE/Sputnik

Published: 8:58pm, 19 Feb 2022Updated: 1:40pm, 9 Mar 2022

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin launched exercises by strategic nuclear missile forces on Saturday and Washington said Russian troops massed near Ukraine’s border were “poised to strike”.

As Western nations fear the start of one the worst conflicts since the Cold War, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said Russian forces were beginning to “uncoil and move closer” to the border with its former Soviet neighbour.

“We hope he steps back from the brink of conflict,” he told a news conference on a visit to Lithuania, saying an invasion of Ukraine was not inevitable.

Russia ordered the build-up while demanding Nato stop Ukraine ever joining the alliance but says predictions it is planning to invade the country are wrong and dangerous. It says it is now pulling back while Washington and allies insist the build-up is mounting.

Russian-backed separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine earlier declared a full mobilisation, a day after ordering women and children to evacuate to Russia, citing the threat of an imminent attack by Ukrainian forces.