On Monday, NATO started a nuclear exercise in Europe. Russia did not formally respond.

However, today (Saturday) at least 10 Russian strategic bombers released a large number of cruise missiles, accompanied by launches of cruise missiles from sea-borne platforms. Those missiles hit targets in Ukraine.

The message, as I understand it, was that those missiles could as easily have continued their flight across the Western borders of Ukraine, and hit NATO bases in Europe. Had they been nuclear-tipped, all the NATO bases would have been destroyed in that single attack.

The underlined part of the “non-message” is, “fuck with us, and that’s what happens”.