US official's response to Russia conducting nuclear drills is surprising, here's what he said

According to US spokesman Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, Russia has issued a prior notification for their nuclear drill, which is part of an annual exercise, Reuters reports.

'The U.S. was notified, and, as we've highlighted before, this is a routine annual exercise by Russia.'

The nuclear drills were supervised by Vladimir Putin

According to a report by France24, the nuclear exercise was personally supervised by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A nuclear exercise in the aftermath of issuing warnings for a ‘dirty bomb’

Ned Price, the US Department of State spokesman, said the Russian heads up about the nuclear drills reduce tensions amid ‘reckless nuclear rhetorics’.

‘While Russia engages in unprovoked aggression and reckless nuclear rhetoric, these notification measures do ensure we're not taken by surprise and reduce the risks of misperception.’

The Russian nuclear exercise comes just after it seems Ukraine has advanced on its objective to recapture Russian-annexed territories, closing in on Kherson city.

On Tuesday, Russia took allegations at the UN Security Council that Ukraine is about to make use of a ‘dirty bomb’, which is a conventional weapon that mixes radioactive power.

Immediately after, the west dismissed this as a Russian attempt at a false flag operation, meaning Russia is intending to use a ‘dirty bomb’ and then blame Ukraine.

As a response, US President Biden warned Russia against such a plan, Reuters reports.

'I'm not guaranteeing you that it's a false flag operation yet, we don't know. But it would be a serious mistake'

Sources used:

-Reuters: ‘Russia notifies U.S. it will carry out expected nuclear drills’

-France24: ‘Putin oversees nuclear response drills’