Vladimir Putin sends nuclear threat after Ukraine gets green light for drone strikes in Russia

Vladimir Putin’s henchmen warned last night that fighting in Ukraine could escalate into “all-out nuclear war” after the United States gave Ukraine the green light to launch drone strikes deep inside Russia.

Russian officials were responding to reports that the Pentagon had told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he can launch the attacks inside Russia, something the United States previously advised against fearing all-out war between Russia and NATO.

A source in Putin’s circle said last night: “This is playing with fire, risking a full-scale war that could easily go nuclear.”

Another said: ‘Who will now give Moscow the green light to attack Ukraine’s decision-making centers?’

The Pentagon has apparently reversed course following an escalation of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, especially with Iranian-supplied Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. Iran has become one of Russia’s most important suppliers in the Ukraine war and is also in talks to supply ballistic missiles.

Zelensky said his air force shot down ten of the 15 Iranian drones that were used to attack the southern regions of his country in the early hours of yesterday. And he added: “The occupiers destroyed Bakhmut, another city in Donbas that the Russian army turned into burnt ruins.” The Odessa governor said the strikes caused power outages in most of his region.

Putin officials said last night that Ukraine was already bombing territory in Russia, with attacks on the Engels and Dyagilevo airbases. One official, Konstantin Gavrilov, said: “Provocations against these airfields could have created nuclear security risks.” Two nuclear-capable Russian Tu-95 bombers were reportedly damaged.

Russia has beefed up its defenses around its capital Moscow and prepared bomb shelters amid fears of Ukrainian attacks.