Putin Issues Warning: ‘Hundreds Of Our Missiles’ Ready To Counter Nuclear Threat To Russia

President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that Russia had successfully tested a new strategic missile and did not rule out the possibility of conducting weapons tests involving nuclear explosions for the first time in over three decades. Putin revealed that Moscow had tested the Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile with significant potential range.

During an annual gathering of analysts and journalists, Putin also mentioned that Russia was close to completing work on its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile system, a crucial component of its modern nuclear weapons arsenal. These statements come in the context of Putin’s efforts to emphasize Russia’s nuclear capabilities, particularly since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin emphasized that it would be irrational for anyone to use nuclear weapons against Russia, given the overwhelming retaliatory response Russia could mount. He suggested that in the event of a nuclear attack against Russia, a vast number of Russian missiles would be launched, making it impossible for any enemy to survive.

While Russia has not conducted nuclear explosion tests since 1990, Putin did not rule out the possibility of resuming such tests. He pointed out that Russia had signed and ratified a treaty banning nuclear tests, in contrast to the United States, which had not ratified the treaty. He suggested that the Russian parliament, the Duma, could theoretically revoke its ratification of the treaty.

The article also noted that military analysts expressed concerns about the potential resumption of nuclear testing by Russia and the United States, given the already high tensions between the two countries. In February, Putin had suspended Russia’s participation in the New START treaty, which limits the number of nuclear weapons each side can deploy.

Regarding Russia’s nuclear doctrine, Putin stated that there was no need to revise it. The doctrine allows for the use of nuclear weapons either in response to a nuclear strike against Russia or in the event of a threat to the state’s existence.

In response to a question from Russian analyst Sergei Karaganov, who advocated for lowering the threshold for nuclear use to deter opponents, Putin expressed his disagreement. He stated that there was currently no situation that threatened Russian statehood and existence to the extent that would necessitate a change in the nuclear doctrine.

Karaganov’s argument for lowering the threshold for nuclear use to “contain, frighten, and sober up” opponents had generated discussion among both Russian and Western strategic analysts. He even suggested threatening nuclear attacks on European countries and U.S. bases in Europe as a means to achieve this. However, Putin dismissed the idea, asserting that using nuclear weapons was not warranted in the current geopolitical climate.

In summary, Putin’s statements regarding Russia’s nuclear capabilities, potential nuclear testing, and its nuclear doctrine have generated significant attention and debate among analysts and experts in the field of international relations and military strategy.