Russia and NATO are on a collision course, with tensioons escalating in the nuclear sphere. according to a report by the TASS state news agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov expressed concern about the growing risks of a direct clash between Russia and the NATO military alliance.. The report says the consequences of such a clash could be 'catastrophic'.

Russia's Nuclear Weapons Drills from May 19 to 21, 2026

The drills, scheduled to take place from May 19 to 21, 2026, will involve thousands of troops and a significant number of weapons. As the report by the TASS state news agency noted, the exercises will be conducted by Russia's armed forces in Belarus, Russia,and the Arctic. The ministry added that the drills will involve more than 65,000 soldiers and 7,800 types of equipment and weapons, including more than 200 missile launchers.

Sergei Ryabkov's Warning of Rising Tensions

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned that the risks of a direct clash between Russia and the NATO military alliance are increasing. According to the TASS state news agency , Ryabkov said there was a growing narrative in European capitals about the 'looming threat of a high-intensity war' with Russia. The report says Ryabkov expressed concern about the escalating tensions between Russia and NATO, particularly in the nuclear sphere.

Link to Ukraine Conflict and President Volodymyr Zelensky's Accusations

The drills are also linked to Ukraine, where President Volodymyr Zelensky has accuused Moscow of preparing a new offensive from Belarus. As the report by the TASS state news agency noted, Moscow has boasted of its possession of nuclear weapons and has repeatedly threatened to use them throughout its four-year conflict in Ukraine. The report says the situation is increasingly volatile, with the potential for catastrophic consequences.