Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov says that Russia is ready to escalate tensions with the West up to launching a full-scale war, as evidenced by massive nuclear strike tests within the Russian-Belarusian Zapad (West) 2017 war games, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
"A massive missile strike by Russia’s armed forces once again confirms the aggressive and offensive nature of Russia's foreign and security policies, as well as its readiness to escalate tensions with the West, up to launching a full-scale war, which demonstrates Russia's desire to dominate Europe," Turchynov told UNIAN.
The NSDC secretary opines that active measures on the part of NATO and the U.S. Armed Forces to monitor Russian military activity show "a full understanding of Russia's military threat by Western military forces."
Missiles were fired at marine targets amid the final stage of the Zapad 2017 drills with involvement of combat crews of the Rubezh coastal missile systems in the Laptev Sea waters, the Northern Fleet naval grouping with a heavy nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great in the Barents Sea, and a combat crew of the Bastion coastal missile system from the 536th separate coastal missile and artillery brigade, according to the NSDC.
Read alsoEstonia’s defense chief: Russia would intervene militarily in Belarus if needed
Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, General Petr Pavel said that the exercises seemed more like preparations for a big war.
Read alsoPolish Def. Minister says Russia may use nuclear weapons in Zapad 2017 drills
In its turn, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus promised that all Russian soldiers who had taken part in the drills would leave Belarusian territory before September 30.
In total, 280 journalists, mostly from foreign media outlets, were accredited for the exercises, as well as observers were invited, including those from Ukraine and NATO member states.
NSDC Secretary Turchynov said that Russia exercised a massive nuclear strike test at the final stage of the Zapad 2017 war-games.