Vladimir Putin’s forces have test-fired a number of nuclear-capable missiles in a chilling threat to the rest of the world.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that on Thursday, during nuclear forces exercises, test launches were conducted of the ‘Yars’ and ‘Sineva’ ICBMs, as well as hypersonic missiles from the ‘Zircon’ and ‘Kinzhal’ systems; meanwhile, the Belarusian military conducted a test launch of an ‘Iskander’ missile, Russian news agency Interfax said.

This comes after an angry war of words with NATO state Lithuania over fears of a Putin military operation in the Baltic.

Alliance fighters were scrambled in Lithuania yesterday amid reported drone incursions from Russian ally Belarus which is currently involved in the nuclear drills with Kremlin forces. The airport in Lithuanian capital Vilnius was closed, and an air raid warning issued with children taken to shelters. An airborne alert was issued for residents of the Ignalina, Utena, Švenčionys, and Zarasai districts.

Russia and its neighbour Belarus are currently staging three-day nuclear missile tests in a clear warning to the West. Putin’s defence ministry said today: “Combat training missions are underway to obtain special munitions for the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system, equip launch vehicles with them, and covertly advance to a designated position area in preparation for missile launches. During the manoeuvres, soldiers delivered nuclear munitions to field storage sites. Furthermore, joint training and use of nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus are being practiced.”

The drone, which authorities said was shot down in southern Estonia on Tuesday, is believed to be Ukrainian. Russia has now warned of retaliation if Ukrainian drones are launched from Baltic countries. Given the trajectory of the drone, “we decided that we need to take it down,” Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

He added: “Most probably, today we can say that it was (a) drone which was, let’s say, meant to hit some Russian targets.” In recent weeks, Ukraine has steadily ramped up its drone raids into Russia, focusing on energy facilities and arms factories deep inside the territory as its domestic technology and scale of production improve.

The strikes have caused some tensions within the Baltic states, which are supporting Ukraine‘s war effort, and between them and Russia.