Newsweek 13.6.24 Russia's nuclear drills relocated closer to NATO borders this week, in a military district formed after Finland joined the alliance. The Russian Defense Ministry said on May 21 that the first stage of the drills had started involving the "practical testing of the preparation and use of nonstrategic nuclear weapons" in the country's Southern Military District. Moscow's second stage of drills began on Tuesday alongside Belarusian troops. In a statement shared on Telegram on Wednesday, Russia's defense ministry said the country's newly formed Leningrad Military District—stationed close to Finland and the Baltic States—had also joined the nuclear maneuvers. The district was announced in February in response to Finland joining the NATO alliance.