The War Is Longer, Russia Will Focus on Building Nuclear Weapons Infrastructure Next Year

Russia Will Focus on Building Nuclear Weapons Infrastructure Next Year

Moscow - Russia will pay special attention to building infrastructure for its nuclear forces in 2023. This was stated by Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, Wednesday (30/11/2022). Shoigu said in televised comments that Russia would also work to improve the combat capabilities of its missile forces and that facilities were being built to accommodate the new missile systems.

Currently, Russia has the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, with nearly 6,000 warheads. President Vladimir Putin has placed territories seized by Russia in Ukraine under Moscow's nuclear umbrella, warning that he is ready to defend Russia's "territorial integrity" by any means available.

Shoigu also said that the Russian Armed Forces should use new advanced weapons systems in the conflict in Ukraine. "It is necessary to continue the modernization and creation of promising systems with their subsequent use during special military operations," Shoigu said at a meeting of the Defense Ministry's senior generals.

Shoigu, one of President Vladimir Putin's closest allies, did not specify which advanced weapons should be used, although he said he wanted to discuss with generals new ways to enhance the artillery and missile strikes.

"New ways to use it in combat are being tested," said Shoigu, without giving details. According to him, in Ukraine battery counterattacks were stepped up using long-range rocket systems such as the Tornado-S and the high-strength "Malka" artillery system. "This makes it possible to effectively attack foreign rocket and artillery systems," said Shoigu.

The conflict in Ukraine, possibly the deadliest in Europe since World War Two, has killed tens of thousands of people on both sides and raised fears of a wider conflict between the US-led NATO alliance and Russia.