Russian forces practice chemical warfare in footage with terrifying new missile – Reuters

New footage shows a Russian brigade of ‘peacekeepers’ in a drill operating in ground ‘contaminated with chemical warfare agents’ amid fears of an invasion in Ukraine

Russian forces train in chemical warfare amid high tension in the face of a feared invasion of Ukraine.

A brigade of ‘peacekeepers’ in a drill exercise operating in ground ‘contaminated with chemical warfare agents’ has been seen in new footage.

The drill in the Southern Military District, which includes annexed Crimea, involved 500 soldiers.

Russia is also preparing bunker-busting Iskander-M missile complexes that have undergone a ‘combat readiness check’ in the Western Military District, which borders Ukraine, separate footage that did not reveal the precise location.

The nuclear-capable Iskander, named Stone in NATO reports, is a short-range mobile ballistic missile with multiple warheads.

This includes cluster munitions, air-fuel explosive warheads, high-explosive fragmentation warheads, and ground-penetrating warheads to destroy bunkers.

“The main purpose of the maneuvers is to test the training and consistency of the actions of the military,” said a report citing military sources.

Combat drills included “cloaking tactical missile systems and repelling saboteur attacks.”

New footage apparently showed tanks, with their numbers “painted on”, being transported “to Ukraine”.

The video is titled: “Russia sends tanks to Ukraine – War 2022”.

The non-stop transport of Russian forces over thousands of kilometers through Siberia to Belarus is intensifying.

A new video shows the latest arrival of tanks and military vehicles, many of which were then sent to the Gomel region bordering Ukraine.

In Crimea, T-72B3 tank crews took part in live-fire exercises, the Black Sea Fleet reported.

“Tank crews conduct fire drills both from a direct line of fire and on the move over rough terrain during a simulated imminent battle,” a report read.

During this time, training exercises took place with Mi-8AMTSh Terminator as well as Mi-24 and Mi-28N helicopters in the Leningrad region.

Russia also staged a massive show of naval force in the Baltic Sea as 20 warships began exercises amid tensions with the West.

Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said “NATO’s increased activities near our borders cannot be ignored by our military, who are responsible for the security of our country.”

He said Moscow was engaged in “a constant process of exercises, maneuvers and military development that has never stopped and will continue.”

NATO had previously indicated that it was strengthening its presence in the Baltic.

A statement from the Baltic Fleet said: “Twenty Baltic Fleet combat vessels, motorboats and support vessels have left their bases and are heading to designated areas of the Baltic Sea to undertake missions in part of a routine combat training exercise.”

“At sea, the ships of the Baltic Fleet forming several battle groups will carry out their tasks as planned, including anti-submarine defense, air defense and mine countermeasures support, while performing practical combat maneuvers.”