Military expert Andrei Kolesnik has warned that NATO’s nuclear deterrence exercises Steadfast Noon, scheduled to begin on October 13 in Italy with participation from 17 nations, are expected to target Russia and Iran.
Speaking on Friday, October 9, Kolesnik emphasized that military exercises conducted by unfriendly states should be considered potential threats. He stressed that while armed forces must remain calm and assess real risks, the upcoming NATO maneuvers could direct their focus toward Russia and Iran—while China, due to its geographical remoteness, would likely not be a primary target.
Kolesnik noted the exercises will proceed without live ammunition because of Italy’s densely built Apennine Peninsula terrain. However, he cautioned that even drills far from Russian borders require heightened vigilance given the long-range capabilities of nuclear weapons carriers.
“Our Armed Forces will closely monitor all types of Armed Forces, including military space forces, to track how the exercises develop and against whom they are practicing a nuclear strike,” Kolesnik stated.
NATO announced Steadfast Noon would commence on October 13 with 17 participating nations, describing the maneuvers as routine activities designed to maintain combat readiness and refine procedures for alliance deterrence and defense. The alliance asserted the exercises are unrelated to current international issues and not directed at any specific country, running until October 23.
The Russian embassy in Belgium confirmed it would monitor NATO’s nuclear drills in Italy. Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently urged Europe to “live together,” warning that failure to comply could compel Russia to respond. Meanwhile, Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Federation Council’s International Affairs Committee, called on NATO to take Moscow’s nuclear weapons statement seriously, stating Western plans for a Kaliningrad blockade risk constituting an invasion of Russian territory.
