DISINFO: Russia does not threaten anyone with nuclear weapons
SUMMARY
Russia does not threaten anyone with the use of nuclear weapons.
Western countries are actively using this rhetoric, trying to present Moscow as ready to strike with nuclear weapons.
Against the backdrop of the events in Ukraine, the United States and its dependent states are actively replicating nuclear rhetoric. They are trying to create the impression that our country will be attacking with weapons of mass destruction. Once again, it must be clarified that Russia does not threaten anyone with the use of nuclear weapons.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin’s narrative denying its own nuclear threats and accusing the West of heating up a nuclear topic.
This is not the first time the Kremlin’s manipulation and disinformation machine has used a deep-seated and very reasonable fear of a nuclear disaster to advance its political and military goals in Ukraine.
On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On February 27, 2022, Vladimir Putin ordered his military to put Russia’s nuclear deterrence forces on high alert. Before that, Putin had warned that "whoever tries to hinder us" in Ukraine would see consequences 'you have never seen in history'.
The current Russian military strategy reserves the option to use nuclear weapons first. Russia's nuclear doctrine allows for a nuclear strike after "aggression against the Russian Federation with conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened", if the state is at risk or possibly if Russia is losing a major war.
From the first day of the war, Russia has been voicing its right to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine at all levels, from high-ranking officials to propagandists.
Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and now deputy chair of the Russian security council said Moscow’s nuclear doctrine does not require the enemy state to use such weapons first. He threatens a 'nuclear' move if NATO expands. In May, Medvedev warned about the nuclear war over Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. In September Medvedev raises the spectre of a nuclear strike and says NATO would not get involved.
In another notable example of warmongering and threats from Russia, EU-sanctioned Russian TV Host Dmitry Kiselyov lashed out at the UK, accusing it of pushing Ukraine to continue fighting against Russia and threatening the UK with nuclear annihilation.
Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the propaganda outlets RT and Sputnik, stated that "Vladimir Putin will launch an all-out nuclear war on the West rather than accept defeat in Ukraine". In September Simonyan twitted: "Judging by what is happening and still about to happen, this week marks either the eve of our imminent victory or the eve of nuclear war".
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov called for Russia to use low-yield nuclear weapons.
Talk about the use of tactical nuclear weapons intensified after the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories. Without providing evidence, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that top NATO officials had said that it’d be acceptable to carry out nuclear strikes on Russia. He threatened to use nuclear weapons adding that "This is not a bluff".
'See other similar cases in our database: Russia has never threatened anyone with nuclear weapons; The West is pushing Ukraine towards a nuclear catastrophe; UK is pushing Ukraine to fight Russia promising assistance with nuclear strike.
Read our articles The Dangerous Case of Nuclear Corners and Playing with nuclear fire.