Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that the threat of a nuclear war is increasing. He made this statement during a meeting with members of Russia’s Council for Human Rights.
“Such a threat is growing, why lie. When it comes to Russia, under no circumstances, using [nuclear weapons] first — but if it won’t be the first one to use [nuclear weapons], under no circumstances, it means that it won’t be the second one to do so either. Because in case of a nuclear strike being carried out on our territory, the possibilities of using them are very limited,” was Putin’s response to a request to personally guarantee that Russia would not be the first one to use nuclear weapons.
He also said that Russia’s nuclear strategy is aimed at using nuclear weapons only as a retaliatory strike.
“We didn’t suddenly go crazy, we are aware of what nuclear weapons are. We have these means, and ours are more developed and modern than those of any other nuclear country. That is obvious,” Putin claimed.
In November, The New York Times reported, citing US government sources, that high-level Russian military leaders had been discussing the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
According to NYT, they were discussing “when and how Moscow might use a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine”. However, Putin did not take part in these discussions.
In October, a drill on delivering a massive nuclear strike in response to an enemy’s nuclear strike was conducted under Putin’s command. The drill took place at the Kura Missile Test Range, Kamchatka.
Chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov reported the use of the Yars mobile ground missile system, strategic missile submarine Tula of the Russian Northern Fleet, and two strategic long-range missile carriers Tu-95MS in the drill.
