MSNBC The Rachel Maddow Show February 19, 2022 05:01:00
Basically make sure everything is in tiptop shape, should you need it. but in reality, these kinds of military exercises are meant to be a dramatic show of force, proof to the world that you have the capability to blow stuff up, and that you are not afraid to use it. the thunder nuclear exercises in 2019 were believed to be russias biggest public test of nuclear might since the cold war. thats why they felt they needed to give it a big scary name, thunder. but russia does this kind of thing ever...
Source: archive.org