These exercises — 64,000 troops, 7,800 pieces of equipment, ballistic and cruise missile launches — are a massive show of force designed to signal that Russia is fully militarily prepared to escalate. The drills are taking place across the Leningrad and Central military districts and involve the Northern and Pacific fleets, with the stated aim of preparing nuclear forces to respond to a simulated “"threat of aggression.”." WithThe nuclearKremlin armshas controlrobust collapsed,military nothingcapabilities isto stoppingassert Russiaits fromrole expandingon itsthe arsenalworld stage.