Putin rattles the nuclear saber again: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visits the Arctic island notorious for nuclear weapons testing – while the Kremlin hosts massive war games at sea

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited the Arctic island notorious for its nuclear tests amid fears the Kremlin will defy the West by resuming military nuclear tests.

Shoigu’s journey to Novaya Zemlya, a remote Arctic archipelago, comes amid massive war games by Vladimir Putin’s Northern Fleet, which involved 20 naval vessels and more than 8,000 troops.

It is the first time the defense minister has visited since Putin ordered Russia to stand ready “if necessary” to conduct new nuclear tests for the first time since 1990 in the Soviet era.

The aggressive move fuels deep east-west tensions over the Kremlin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and regular Russian threats to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict.

A defense source says: “The task of preparing for the resumption of nuclear tests ordered by the Russian president will certainly be fulfilled.

Putin has ordered Russia to stand ready “if necessary” to conduct new nuclear tests for the first time since 1990 in the Soviet era. Pictured: Russian troops conduct military exercises in the Arctic

Shoigu’s journey to Novaya Zemlya, a remote Arctic archipelago, takes place during war games of Vladimir Putin’s Northern Fleet, which involved 20 naval vessels and more than 8,000 troops. Pictured: Exercises being conducted in the Arctic

“Novozemelsky’s test suite has always been ready for the tests.”

Shoigu “inspected the remote Arctic garrisons of the Northern Fleet” and “in particular supervised the organization of official activities in Novaya Zemlya,” state news agency RIA Novosti reported today.

Significantly, he was accompanied by Alexey Likhachev, director general of ROSATOM, the Russian state nuclear energy company.

It follows reports earlier this week that Shoigu’s daughter Ksenia, 32, has been forced to split from her “anti-war” partner Alexey Stolyarov, 33, under pressure from Putin.

Meanwhile, “a detachment of ships from the Northern Fleet went to sea to solve problems in the Arctic zone.”

Shoigu’s visit followed a call from Dmitry Rogozin, the former chief of Putin’s space agency, to restart banned tests in Novaya Zemlya.

“We need to get the buttocks (of the West) to shake with fear,” he said.

“I would start… I would do it, and I wouldn’t wait for the Americans,” he said in May.

“Perform nuclear tests on Nova Zembla now.”

Vyacheslav Solovyov, scientific director of the Russian Federal Nuclear Center said: “There is a special program to keep the test site ready.”

From September 21, 1955 to October 24, 1990, approximately 130 nuclear tests were conducted on Novaya Zemlya

The aggressive action is fueling deep east-west tensions over the Kremlin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. On the photo: Shoigu visiting Nova Zembla

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspects Arctic garrisons of the Northern Fleet

From September 21, 1955 to October 24, 1990, approximately 130 nuclear tests were conducted on Nova Zembla. These include 88 atmospheric, 3 underwater and 39 underground.

Putin this week began exercises in the Arctic, ostensibly to protect the northern sea route between Europe and Asia.

“In total, the exercises will involve more than 8,000 military personnel, 20 warships, submarines and logistics vessels, five aircraft, up to 50 military and special hardware from the Northern Fleet’s armed forces, formations and military units,” a naval source said.

“The participants will test different options to exercise command and control of the fleet as they tackle missions to protect the sovereignty of the Russian Federation along the Northern Sea Route.”

This follows the Oceanic Shield 2023 naval exercise in the Baltic Sea which involved more than 30 warships and other craft, 30 aircraft and some 6,000 troops.

Russia also has plans to expand a garrison on Novaya Zemlya.

Shoigu’s visit is the latest high-profile event for the veteran defense minister whose star seems to be rising in Moscow.

Last month, he traveled to North Korea on a four-day visit in search of ammunition and weapons for its war in Ukraine.

Putin this week began exercises in the Arctic, ostensibly to protect the northern sea route between Europe and Asia

“In total, the exercises will involve more than 8,000 military personnel, 20 warships, submarines and logistics vessels, five aircraft, up to 50 military and special hardware from the Northern Fleet’s armed forces, formations and military units,” a naval source said.

Russia’s defense ministry said today Moscow destroyed 20 Ukrainian drones launched at the Crimea peninsula early on Saturday.

There were no casualties and no damage from the attack attempt, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. It said 14 drones were destroyed by air defense systems and six were suppressed by electronic warfare.

It was not immediately clear what was the target of the reported attacks on the Russian-annexed peninsula.

Sergei Kryuchkov, an adviser to the Russian-installed governor of Crimea, said earlier that air defense systems were repelling airstrikes in various parts of the peninsula.

Crimean transport authorities said on their Telegram channel that traffic on the Crimean bridge, which connects the Black Sea peninsula to Russia’s Krasnodar region, was suspended for about two hours from 1:30 am (2230 GMT).

Drone attacks on Russian-controlled areas in Ukraine and deep inside Russia have increased since a drone was destroyed over the Kremlin in early May.

Ukraine almost never publicly claims responsibility for the attacks, but has said destroying Russia’s military infrastructure is crucial to Kiev’s counter-offensive.

A Russian defense factory was evacuated yesterday after a major explosion at the site sent a huge plume of smoke into the air, towering over nearby buildings.

The explosion at the optical-mechanical factory in Zagorsk also initially led to reports of a drone strike, but this was quickly denied by Russian officials.

A huge mushroom cloud was seen over the factory in Sergiyev Posad, 74 kilometers northeast of Moscow. A witness said that ‘the whole factory is in ruins’.