Top Putin ally Medvedev threatens NUCLEAR strikes as Russia 'preparing 500k soldiers' for new assault on Ukraine | The Sun
A TOP Russian official and Putin ally has warned that all of Ukraine "will burn" if Kyiv uses longer-range missiles to attack Russia.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, made the chilling threat of nuclear "retaliatory strikes" today on a Russian military-owned TV channel.
"There will be no negotiations in this case, only retaliatory strikes," the Putin ally told Russian journalist Nadana Fridrikhson.
"The whole of Ukraine remaining under Kyiv's rule will burn… Our response may be anything."
The top official then went onto explicitly refer to Russia's nuclear doctrine as part of this "anything" response with "all types of weapons".
His claims follow the Pentagon's announcement of a new $2.175 billion aid package for Kyiv on February 3.
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Within this package, the US promised new precision long-range missiles with double the range to strike Russia deep behind their frontlines.
The greatest weapon in Ukraine's arsenal was the collective international unity in support of Ukraine
Medvedev continued his diatribe: "The president of Russia made this quite clear. We do not set ourselves any limits and, depending on the nature of the threats, we are ready to use all types of weapons.
"In accordance with our doctrinal documents, including the Fundamentals of State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence."
The former president of Russia's thinly veiled threat implies using nuclear weapons against Ukraine – a warning Putin has relied on throughout the war to provoke fear in the West.
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Clause 19 of Russia's State Police on Nuclear Deterrence claims they may use nuclear weapons "in the event of aggression against Russia with the use of conventional weapons, when the very existence of the state is threatened."
Today, Putin continued this tactic at an event to commemorate the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II at Stalingrad.
The brutal warmonger slammed Germany's decision to send Leopard tanks, just as Portugal this week joined Spain and other NATO allies in delivering tanks and other new arms to Ukraine.
Echoing Medvedev, Putin said Russia has an "answer" to any country that threatens it, adding: "It's unbelievable but true. We are again being threatened by German Leopard tanks."
As the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine draws nearer on February 24, Kyiv is fearing a new Russian offensive using a newly-drafted mass conscript army.
Ukraine's defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, warned that their assessment of troops on the border suggests the numbers are nearing 500,000 preparing to attack in the east and south.
“We think that, given that [Russia] lives in symbolism, they will try to try something around February 24," he said on Thursday to French media.
"We tell our partners that we too must be ready as soon as possible,” Reznikov said.
Medvedev has not been keep quieting. On Friday, he wrote on Telegram that the West will watch the "death" of Ukraine as a state. Devastated by war and hunger, he claims Russia will easily turn it into a colony.
"The possibility of the complete bankruptcy of the Ukrainian state and an inevitable end has become more evident," he boldly alleged.
Absent from his propagandist tirade is any reference to his country's blunders on the battlefield.
After eight months of relentless fighting, Russia still does not have control of the symbolic eastern city of Bakhmut, which is starving Putin of a significant military victory he has been desperately searching for since the summer.
The ability of Ukrainian forces to hold onto, albeit scarcely, what they call "Fortress Bakhmut" has led to "Bakhmut holds" become a battle cry resounding throughout the nation.
Today, speaking at an EU summit, Ukrainian President Zelensky vowed to defend Bakhmut as he renewed calls for long-range missiles.
"Nobody will give away Bakhmut. We will fight for as long as we can. We consider Bakhmut our fortress."
As winter marches on, Moscow has failed to gain total control of any of the four regions they claimed to have annexed back in September.
A startlingly evident fact that even Putin's staunch propagandists are struggling to deny following the liberation of Kherson in November.
Another puncture to Russia's war machine is their soaring death toll, with estimates that the number of dead or wounded is soon to reach 200,000.
The Ukrainian casualty figures are difficult to estimate due to the Kyiv's secrecy surrounding their wartime losses.
In a call with Zelensky today, Rishi Sunak said that he would ensure Britain's promised military aid would reach Ukraine imminently.
Ukrainian troops in the UK are already being trained on how to use Challenger 2 battle tanks, of which Britain has supplied a whole squadron.
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A Downing Street spokesman said: "Both leaders agreed that it was vital that international partners accelerated their assistance to Ukraine to help seize the opportunity to push Russian forces back, as well as looking at how they could support the long-term capability of Ukraine's armed forces.
"The greatest weapon in Ukraine's arsenal was the collective international unity in support of Ukraine, the leaders agreed."
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