Putin orders strategic deterrence forces to be put on alert

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On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Defense Ministry to put Russia's strategic deterrence forces on special combat alert.

The Russian President's orders came during his meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.

Putin stressed that this step comes in response to Western officials, who "not only took aggressive economic steps, but their NATO officials made aggressive statements against Russia."