Russia President Vladimir Putin will attend and lead a planned exercise of strategic nuclear forces, the Russian Defence Ministry reported.

The ministry noted that the drills will start on Saturday. They will include launches of ballistic and cruise missiles.

The maneuvers will involve the Aerospace Forces, the Southern Military District, the Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet. As part of the exercise, it is planned to test the readiness of military command, combat crews, crews and the reliability of strategic nuclear and non-nuclear forces weapons.