Russian official warns of possible nuclear retaliation if Ukraine attacks missile launch site
(Baonghean.vn) - Mr. Dmitry Medvedev - considered a high-ranking ally of Russian President Putin, warned on January 11 that any attack by Ukraine on missile launch sites in Russian territory using weapons provided by the US and its allies would risk a nuclear response from Moscow.
More specifically, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, currently Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, said that some Ukrainian military commanders are considering the option of attacking missile launch sites inside Russia with long-range missiles provided by the West.
Mr. Medvedev did not name the commanders nor reveal further details of the plan. Ukraine has not yet responded immediately to the official's threat.
“What does this mean? It means only that they risked taking action under paragraph 19 of the basic principles of Russian state policy in the sphere of nuclear deterrence. This must be remembered,” Medvedev wrote on the Telegram messaging app, according to Reuters.
Clause 19 of Russia's 2020 nuclear doctrine outlines the conditions under which the Russian president would consider using nuclear weapons: generally in response to an attack using nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction, or the use of conventional weapons against Russia "when the very existence of the state is threatened".
Mr. Medvedev specifically mentioned point G in paragraph 19, which refers to a nuclear response to an attack with conventional weapons.
President Putin is now the decision maker when it comes to Russia's massive nuclear arsenal.
Some say Mr Medvedev’s nuclear threat is an attempt to draw attention or deter the West from providing more weapons to Ukraine. The US and its allies have pledged nearly $250 billion in military aid and other support to Kiev.
According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia and the US are by far the world's largest nuclear powers: Mr Putin has control of 5,889 nuclear warheads while US President Joe Biden has control of around 5,244 nuclear warheads.
