Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said Russia would continue to develop a nuclear triad to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We will continue to develop the triad of nuclear deterrence and maintain combat readiness because the nuclear shield has been and remains a key element in ensuring Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the ministry said. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said today.
The nuclear triad includes ballistic missiles, submarines, and strategic bombers. According to Shoigu, Russia will also strengthen its aerospace forces’ combat capabilities, fighter jets, bombers, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Shoigu’s comments come amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West after Moscow launched a military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev said on January 10 that the West was trying to divide Russia and erase it from the world political map.
“Faced with emerging military threats, it is important for us to have our armed forces and specialized units so that Russia’s adversaries do not think they can compete with us.”, said Mr. Patrushev, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Medvedev said in December that the country is accelerating the production of the most powerful weapons to deal with the US and its allies, but did not specify.
President Putin previously affirmed that Russia’s nuclear triad is continuously being strengthened. Moscow has put into service many advanced weapon systems, many of which have no similar rivals in the world.