According to the order of President Vladimir Putin, the Russian General Staff has started preparations for exercises of missile formations of the Southern Military District with the participation of aviation and naval forces.

Axar.az reports that the Ministry of Defense of Russia has released information about this.

It was reported that a number of measures on the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons will be implemented during the exercise.

"The exercises aim to maintain the readiness of the personnel and equipment of the units for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons in response to provocative statements and threats by individuals, to take countermeasures and to unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state", - Russian Ministry of Defense stressed.