US has not seen change in Russia's nuclear posture during insurrection - officials

The United States has not seen a change to Russia’s nuclear posture since Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin began his insurrection challenging the Kremlin’s leadership, two US officials told CNN. 

“We have not seen any changes in the disposition of Russian nuclear forces,” a State Department spokesperson said, adding that the US has “no reason to adjust our conventional or nuclear force posture. We have long-standing, established communication channels with Russia on nuclear issues.”

President Putin has repeatedly engaged in nuclear sabre-rattling over the course of the Ukraine war. Putin said earlier this month that the first tactical nuclear weapons to be stored in Belarus had arrived. US President Joe Biden called the move “absolutely irresponsible.”

The US has continued to monitor Russia’s nuclear posture throughout the Ukraine War despite Russia this year suspending participation in the single lasting nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia. This has meant that the two nations are no longer sharing certain notifications with one another which were required under the treaty, including updates on the status or location of treaty-accountable items such as missiles and launchers. 

“As a nuclear power, Russia has a special responsibility to maintain command, control, and custody of its nuclear forces and to ensure that no actions are taken that imperil strategic stability,” the State Department spokesperson said. 

And as the US continues to monitor the situation in Russia the US diplomatic presence in the country has remained unchanged. 

“Our embassy in Moscow remains open, we are in regular communication with it, and its operating posture remains the same at this time,” the spokesperson said.