Vladimir Putin has instructed the Russian Ministry of Defence to conduct a test of non-strategical nuclear weapons. In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Russia and the West, the Russian president made the order in response to “Western aggression”. He added that the exercises were also aimed at protecting Russian sovereignty. Although an exact date for the test has not been revealed, the Russian Ministry of Defense said the tests would take place “in the near future”. In a message on Telegram, the Russian MoD said the tests would take place “in response to provocative statements and thr…