Chilling footage shows Russian troops carrying out tactical nuke drills near ... trends now

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Bleak footage has revealed Russian troops carrying out drills to use tactical nuclear weapons near Ukraine's border in response to what the nation claimed were Western 'threats.'

The video, shared by Russia's defence ministry, showed a convoy of military vehicles carrying the tactical missiles to the Southern Military District, which borders and includes parts of Ukraine that Moscow claims to have annexed. 

The Iskander and Kinzhal missiles were seen being loaded into launchers in preparation for a potential military move by Russia. 

The drills are designed to test 'the readiness of personnel and equipment of non-strategic nuclear weapons combat units to respond and to unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state,' the defence ministry said in a statement.

It added they were a 'response to provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials.'

Vladimir Putin's defence ministry said this was the 'first stage' of the drills, which involved practicing the loading of launch vehicles, driving to designated launch sites and loading planes with hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.

It did not indicate whether any test firings had taken place.