Putin’s administration explains his statement on nuclear tests
Photo: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov (Getty Images)
The Kremlin began making excuses after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered "resumption of nuclear tests." Officials there claimed that there was allegedly no talk of resuming the tests — and that the matter was about something else, according to a statement by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made to Russian propaganda outlets.
"I want to emphasize that Putin did not issue an order to begin preparations for nuclear tests. Putin instructed to study the feasibility of such preparations. That is what will be done now," Peskov said.
The Kremlin spokesperson also did not specify any timeframe for this so-called "feasibility study," telling propagandists that Putin had allegedly "not announced any specific deadlines." Peskov only added that the "analysis of feasibility" would continue as long as necessary "to understand the intentions of the United States."
On November 4, during a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would begin preparations for "large-scale nuclear tests." The Kremlin leader ordered Russian officials to start preparing for these tests.
Equally delusional statements during the same meeting were made by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, who claimed that the United States allegedly practiced nuclear strikes on Russian territory during the Global Thunder exercises in October 2025.
Why the Kremlin is in panic
Putin’s statements, as well as those of one of his cronies, came amid remarks by US President Donald Trump last week that his country would resume nuclear testing. Trump said he was "literally forced" to make such a decision because "other countries" had already resumed nuclear tests — apparently referring to Russia and Kremlin-aligned China.
It was Putin who actually started this "competition." At the end of October, the Kremlin leader boasted about the "successful tests" of the Burevestnik missile, allegedly "equipped with a nuclear propulsion system." He also claimed that Russia had successfully tested the Poseidon underwater drone — also allegedly with a "nuclear propulsion system."
On November 5, the US military conducted a test launch of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, which serves as America’s primary heavy nuclear weapons carrier. The test was successful.
