Ukrainian special services have warned that Russia is preparing to conduct “large-scale exercises of strategic nuclear forces” for the purpose of “blackmail” on the eve of the visit of American President Joe Biden to Poland, EFE reports, based on Agerpres.

On Sunday, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported confirmation that Moscow is preparing components of its nuclear forces for maneuvers with the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles.

As part of the preparations for these exercises, the operation of the centralized combat control system of the Russian Armed Forces was checked and the nuclear forces were brought to the highest level of combat readiness as part of the tests, the GUR said in a statement.

According to Ukrainian intelligence services, the decision to conduct these maneuvers is part of an attempt to “prevent” a trip to Europe by Biden, who will land in Warsaw on Monday, as part of a trip that coincides with the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow’s strategy is to use “direct nuclear blackmail” to “weaken international support for Ukraine,” they concluded.

GUR’s warning comes days after an annual report by Norway’s Defense Ministry raised the possibility that Russia may have transferred some of its nuclear capabilities to ships and submarines in its northern fleet.