Moscow: President Vladimir Putin has issued orders for new nuclear weapons drills amid rising tensions with the West, following a deadly Ukrainian drone attack near Russia's Belgorod border region.

The exercises, to be conducted in the "near future," will involve the air force, navy, and troops stationed near Ukraine. The move comes as Putin has intensified nuclear rhetoric, cautioning of a "real" risk of nuclear war in a February address to the nation.

The Kremlin has cited Western comments on the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine as the rationale behind the drills. Russia's defence ministry stated the exercises aim to ensure territorial integrity in the face of perceived threats from certain Western officials.

The drills will include preparations and simulations for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, designed for battlefield deployment. Troops from the Southern Military District, bordering Ukraine, will participate.

Meanwhile, the Belgorod region witnessed a deadly attack as Ukrainian kamikaze-drones targeted vehicles near the village of Berezyovka, resulting in six deaths and 35 injuries. The region has faced increasing assaults, with Moscow reporting heightened aerial attacks and shelling on Ukrainian border areas.

The Ukrainian energy ministry reported Russian strikes targeting energy facilities in Sumy and Kharkiv regions, leaving thousands without power. Ukrainian officials also noted shelling in Kharkiv, injuring at least one person.

The Kremlin has framed the upcoming nuclear drills as a response to "unprecedented" comments from Western leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, regarding potential NATO troop deployment to Ukraine. The remarks have further exacerbated tensions amid the ongoing conflict.

While Macron emphasized the possibility of troop deployment in the event of a Russian breakthrough in Ukrainian front lines, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron affirmed Ukraine's right to strike targets inside Russia. NATO, however, has reiterated its stance against sending troops into Ukraine, underscoring the complex geopolitical dynamics at play.