US waiting for Russia's notification about upcoming exercises of nuclear forces

Russia has not yet notified the United States about exercises of its nuclear forces that Washington expects Moscow to carry out soon, a senior US military official said on October 17.

The United States says Russia will likely carry out test launches of missiles during its annual “Grom” exercises of its strategic nuclear forces, perhaps in just days, Euronews reports.

Under the New START Treaty, Russia is obliged to provide advance notification of such missile launches, US officials say. That has yet to come, the US military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“No, we have not received any type of official notification,” the military official told reporters. The drills present another challenge to the United States and its allies as Russian President Vladimir Putin openly threatens to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia in its unravelling invasion of Ukraine.

Still, Western officials have expressed confidence in their ability to discern the difference between a Russian drill and any move by Putin to make good on his threats.