NATO’s large-scale Steadfast Defender drills are clear indication that the alliance is preparing for a “potential conflict” with Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday.

The General Staff of the Russian armed forces is preparing for drills to practice the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.

The forthcoming exercises involving missile units of the Southern Military District will feature aviation, as well as naval forces, and are to be held upon instructions from Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

The drills are aimed at increasing “the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to carry out combat missions,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The exercise aims at maintaining the readiness of personnel and equipment of units for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons to respond and in order to unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Russia in response to provocative statements and threats of individual Western officials against Russia,” the ministry statement added.