This was stated on Espreso TV by Dr. Oleksandr Shulha, a sociologist and head of the Institute for Conflict Studies and Analysis of Russia.“This was an escalation — I’d say the penultimate step before actual nuclear escalation. Nuclear escalation also has its levels. You can start by moving nuclear weapons, or by conducting tests. I believe they’ve found a creative way to issue nuclear threats without using the weapons — by simply launching the delivery system,” Shulha explained.He added that while such moves are costly, the media impact makes them worthwhile from the Kremlin’s perspective.“So I think this relocation is another stage of so-called escalation, but without real action. Because if they do conduct tests under current conditions, it would be perceived as escalation beyond the line,” he said.According to Shulha, the consequences would be less about the U.S. or Europe, and more about how Russia’s key economic partners — such as China and India — would react.“The real issue wouldn’t be the U.S. or even Europe. It would be China, India, and other Russian partners who are economically vital to the Kremlin,” he concluded.Earlier, Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia had produced its first serially manufactured Oreshnik missile system, now in the hands of the military. He also said the issue of its deployment in Belarus would be “resolved by the end of the year.”