Russia holds massive nuclear war exercise involving 40MILLION people as military tensions rise with US

RUSSIA is holding a massive evacuation drill for more than 40million people to prepare for nuclear war.

More than 200,000 emergency services personnel and soldiers will use 50,000 pieces of equipment during the massive civil defence exercise.

The former Soviet nation is ramping up fears over nuclear war and blaming the West for the unsettling possibility of a conflict.

As international tension builds following attacks in Syria, Russian state officials are preparing terrified citizens for a nuclear war – which they say would be started by America.

Today’s exercise is being run by EMERCOM, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry.

Civil Defence Department director Oleg Manuilov told Interfax: “Training will be held from October 4 to 7 and will be attended by more than 40 million people, more than 200 thousand professionals rescue units and 50 thousand pieces of equipment.”

As international tension builds following attacks in Syria, Russian state officials are preparing terrified citizens for a nuclear war – which they say would be started by America.

The fear that the West is set for war with Russia is being spread throughout media reports and official statements.

One headline on the website Zvezda last week read “Schizophrenics from America are sharpening nuclear weapons for Moscow” – claiming the US wanted to punish Russia over challenges in the Middle East.

EMERCOM announced on Friday that underground shelters which could fit the entire population of Moscow – 12 million – if war broke out.

At a level of constant fear of devastating attacks from America, Moscow has carried out at least two nuclear attack drills since Vladimir Putin became the president again in 2012.

Russia currently has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons with 8,400, and a section of its nuclear doctrine which allows for use of the weapons if there is a vague suggestion of a threat.

America has 7,500 warheads, considerably less.

In the past Dmitry Kiselyov, head of Russia’s main news agency, has said only Russia would be able to turn the US into “radioactive ash”.

The nerves surrounding Russia’s fears of attack have grown from comments made by Ash Carter, the US secretary of defence, who said the Pentagon was reviewing its “nuclear playbook” to ensure against “terrible attacks” by Russia.

Confrontation with the West, and a willingness to continue the rift, is said to be something those in Putin’s inner circle are encouraging.

It has previously been reported that Putin is preparing for war with the West.

The Russian president has invested heavily in decking out top secret facilities around Moscow in the event of war.

He has even ordered the building of a 400-square mile facility in the remote wastes of the Ural mountains from where any future conflict could be directed.

Satellite images reveal the location of the huge centre near Mount Yamantau.

This week the White House suspended contact with Russia over Syria.

US officials ran out of patience with the Kremlin on Monday, when the US State Department announced bilateral discussions would not continue.

The move was threatened last week by Secretary of State John Kerry, who was enraged by a number of airstrikes on rebel-controlled areas of Aleppo.

Hundreds of innocents are believed to have been killed in attacks on the city in recent weeks.