Sirens blare across Russia as it holds nationwide emergency drills

MOSCOW (AP) — Sirens wailed across Russia and TV stations interrupted regular programming to broadcast warnings as part of sweeping drills intended to test the readiness of the emergency services amid the fighting in Ukraine. The exercise that began Tuesday and continued on Wednesday follows a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian cities. As it occurred, the military said air defenses shot down 31 Ukrainian drones over Russian border regions early Wednesday. Russian media said the exercise’s scenario mentions the increasing danger of a conflict between nuclear powers and simulates action in response to a situation in which 70% of housing and all vital infrastructure are destroyed and wide areas are contaminated by radioactive fallout.