(NEWSnet/AP) – Russia has threatened to strike British military facilities and said Monday it would hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons.

This step comes amid sharply rising tensions over comments by senior Western officials about possibly deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine.

After summoning the British ambassador to the Foreign Ministry, Moscow warned that Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory with U.K.-supplied weapons could bring retaliatory strikes against British military facilities and equipment on Ukrainian soil or elsewhere.

The remarks are just before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration to a fifth term in office, which takes place Tuesday. In addition, Moscow will celebrate Victory Day Thursday. Victory Day is its most important secular holiday, marking its defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

It was the first time Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, although its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exercises. Tactical nuclear weapons include air bombs, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery munitions and are meant for use on a battlefield. They are less powerful than the strategic weapons — massive warheads that arm intercontinental ballistic missiles and are intended to obliterate entire cities.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Macron’s recent statement and other remarks by British and U.S. officials had prompted the nuclear drills.

The Russian announcement stirred little public reaction in Ukraine.

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