“Signal for NATO”: the FT newspaper learned about Russia’s postponement of nuclear exercises from autumn to February

Russia has decided to postpone its nuclear weapons exercises from autumn to February. This is reported by the Financial Times, citing a congressional source.

Russia’s plans were announced at a closed briefing in the House of Representatives by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, General Mark Milley, and the director of National Intelligence, Avril Haynes, the newspaper writes.

It is noted that in this way Moscow allegedly wants to “send a signal to NATO” and conduct exercises as a warning to the alliance “so that it does not intervene if Russia decides to attack Ukraine,” writes the media, citing American intelligence. It is specified that the Russian Federation plans to conduct large-scale exercises in February, and they will include tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Russia has just under 4,500 nuclear warheads, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) has calculated.

Earlier, the United States called the possible timing of the Russian attack on Ukraine mid-January – mid-February.

It should be noted that recently in Western countries, as well as in Ukraine, there have been statements about a possible “invasion” of Russia into Ukrainian territory. Western media reported that the US intelligence community allegedly had evidence that Russia was planning to film a video showing a faked attack on its troops and use the video as a pretext to invade Ukraine. Moscow has denied such accusations and maintained that Russia poses no threat to anyone.