The Russian defence ministry said the drills would be a response to "provocative statements and threats" from the West, the Reuters news agency reported.
The ministry said the exercise was ordered by President Vladimir Putin and would test the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to perform combat missions, according to Reuters.
"During the exercise, a set of measures will be carried out to practice the issues of preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons," the Russian defence ministry said, as cited by Reuters.
It added that the exercise was intended to ensure Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty "in response to provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation."
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.
Monday is day 803 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: Reuters, IAR, PAP