Russia: In This Case, We Use Nuclear Weapons

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, which is chaired by President Vladimir Putin, stated in a message on his official social media accounts that Russia would be forced to abandon its nuclear doctrine in such a scenario. He added, "Imagine if... the NATO-backed attack succeeded and they took a part of our land. In that case, we would have to use nuclear weapons according to the rules established by the President of Russia." He said, "Simply, there would be no other choice. Therefore, our enemies should pray for the (success of) our warriors. They are eager not to ignite a global nuclear war." Medvedev, who portrays himself as one of the most hardline voices in Moscow, seems to be referring to a part of Russian nuclear doctrine which states that nuclear weapons could be used in response to aggression against Russia using conventional weapons that threaten the existence of the Russian state. Ukraine is attempting to reclaim territories annexed by Russia, which it has declared as part of its territory, a move that has been condemned by Kyiv and many Western countries.