Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing Russia to launch nuclear weapons in the event of a massive conventional attack on its soil.
The warning comes as Ukrainian forces carried out their first strike within Russian territory with a six US- long-range ATACMS missiles.
To add to the tensions, the Kremlin has warned that Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied missiles against Russia could prompt a nuclear response.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s Spokesperson man, said during his daily news briefing when he was asked by journalists whether Russia would view the use of Western non-nuclear missiles by the Ukrainian armed forces as part of an attack by a non-nuclear State with the support of a nuclear State, and whether that would entail the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons, TASS quoted him as replying: “Yes, that is what is being discussed.”
Putin, in approving the updated nuclear doctrine, said Russia could consider using nuclear weapons if it is subject to a conventional missile assault on it supported by a nuclear power.
The decision to change Russia’s official nuclear doctrine has been in process for months – but Putin signing it this week appears to be a response to the Biden administration allowing Ukraine to fire American long-range missiles deep into Russia.
The updated doctrine, which outlines the threats which would make Russia’s leadership consider a nuclear strike, said an attack with conventional missiles, drones or other aircraft could be considered to meet these criteria.
It also said any aggression against Russia by a state which was a member of a coalition would be considered by Moscow to be aggression against it by the whole coalition.
Just weeks before the November US presidential elections, Putin ordered changes to the nuclear doctrine to say that any conventional attack on Russia aided by a nuclear power could be considered to be a joint attack on Russia.
The 1,000-day-old Ukraine war has triggered the gravest confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis – considered to be the closest the two Cold War superpowers came to intentional nuclear war.
Russian News Agency TASS said: “The fundamental principle of the doctrine is that the use of nuclear weapons is a measure of last resort to protect the country’s sovereignty. The emergence of new military threats and risks prompted Russia to clarify the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons.
“In particular, the amended doctrine expands the range of countries and military alliances subject to nuclear deterrence, as well as the list of military threats that such deterrence is designed to counter. In addition, the document states that Russia will now view any attack by a non-nuclear country supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack.
“Moscow also reserves the right to consider a nuclear response to a conventional weapons attack threatening its sovereignty, a large-scale launch of enemy aircraft, missiles, and drones targeting Russian territory, their crossing of the Russian border, and an attack on its ally Belarus.
“The previous version of Russia’s nuclear doctrine was approved in June 2020, replacing a similar document that had been in force for ten years.”
Written with agency reports