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Senior Russian military leaders have discussed when and how they would use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine, multiple US officials have claimed.
The officials spoke of scenarios where they would use nuclear weapons, showing how frustrated the generals are over setbacks on the battlefield in Ukraine.
They did not discuss the use of the weapons with Russian President Vladimir Putin – but the talks have heightened concerns about the prospect of a nuclear Armageddon.
US government officials learned of the discussions in mid-October, as Moscow’s nuclear rhetoric intensified. The New York Times.
It comes after Putin joked about the prospect of nuclear war last week.
The Kremlin leader was asked to reassure an audience of the think tank Valdai Discussion Club that the world is not on the brink of nuclear destruction – and chose to respond with a long pause.
When host Fyodor Lukyanov pointed out that his silence was “alarming,” a grinning Putin replied, “I did that on purpose so you’d be wary. The effect has been achieved.’
Senior Russian military leaders have discussed when and how they would use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine, multiple US officials have claimed. Pictured: A Russian nuclear missile is fired during test exercises last week
They didn’t discuss the use of nuclear weapons with Russian President Vladimir Putin – but the talks have heightened concerns over the prospect of a nuclear Armageddon
John F. Kirby, a National Security Council official, told the New York Times: “We have been clear from the outset that Russia’s comments about the potential use of nuclear weapons are very worrying, and we take them seriously.
“We continue to monitor this as closely as possible and we see no indication that Russia is preparing for such use.”
Russia’s nuclear stockpile, the world’s largest, consists of lower-yield “tactical” bombs and strategic weapons capable of destroying cities and population centers.
Its tactical nuclear weapons, with a yield of between ten and 100 kilotons, are designed for use on the battlefield in disputed territory.
In comparison, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 was about 18 kilotons.
Ukrainian soldiers fired artillery from a self-propelled howitzer toward Russian positions near Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Tuesday.
Ukrainian soldiers prepare to fire a self-propelled howitzer at Russian positions on Tuesday
Last week Putin spoke at length on nuclear weapons, after threatening the West with a nuclear attack on several occasions – raising fears that he would also use one in Ukraine.
The despot denied that he has any plans to use one on his neighbor, saying there is “no political or military justification” for doing so.
But he also referred to Russia’s nuclear doctrine that allows them to be used in the event of a threat to the country that – at least according to the Kremlin – now includes occupied parts of Ukraine.
Fears of escalation are mounting as the war in Ukraine approaches its ninth month, with Kiev at the forefront and Putin nowhere near achieving his goals.
While the official goal of the invasion remains the “liberation” of the eastern region of Donbas, according to Putin, in reality his forces have stopped advancing almost everywhere besides the city of Bakhmut, in Donetsk.
Meanwhile, they are being pushed back into the northern region of Kharkov and the southern region of Kherson, the latter of which has declared itself part of Russia.
That has led to fears that he could resort to nuclear weapons after saying he would use “all available means” to defend the territory.
It comes after Moscow claimed Ukraine is preparing to detonate a so-called “dirty bomb” on its territory, i.e. a conventional explosive laced with radioactive material to cause contamination.
Kiev said allegations that it would use such tactics on its own territory are absurd, but that Russia could be planning such actions itself to blame Ukraine.
The UN nuclear watchdog has been sent to two areas in Ukraine, where Putin claims the bomb is being prepared — at the urging of Kiev — while President Volodymyr Zelensky and his allies dismiss the claims as fiction.
Instead, they said Russia may be preparing the ground to use one of its own nuclear weapons as a pretext to escalate the conflict.
US President Joe Biden, when asked about Putin’s claim that he would never use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, replied last week: “Why does he keep talking about it?
“Why is he talking about the possibility of deploying a tactical nuclear weapon? He’s been very dangerous in the way he’s approached this and he should just get out.
“He can put an end to this, get out of Ukraine.”