The military alliance started its annual nuclear exercise "Steadfast Noon" with up to 60 aircraft taking part on Monday.

NATO will hold a large-scale nuclear exercise called “Steadfast Noon” next week. The exercise comes shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced changes to his country’s nuclear policy. The updates were intended to warn Ukraine’s Western allies against supporting any attacks on Russia.

The Kremlin said that NATO's annual nuclear exercise involving nuclear-capable military aircraft, which began on Monday, was fuelling tensions in light of the "hot war" unfolding in Ukraine.