Vladimir Putin again raises nuclear threat in case of “massive” air attack on Russian territory

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, September 25, that Russia would study the “possibility” of the use of nuclear weapons in the event of “massive launch” planes, missiles or drones against its territory, at a time when kyiv is trying to convince the West to authorize the use of long-range missiles in its conflict against Moscow.

“We will consider such a possibility if we receive reliable information about the mass launch of aerospace attack means and their crossing of our state border. I am referring to strategic and tactical aviation, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic aircraft and other aviation devices.”he said at a meeting of the Russian Security Council.

Vladimir Putin also said that changes had been proposed to his country’s nuclear doctrine. “It is proposed to consider aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear country but with the participation or support of a nuclear country as a joint attack against the Russian Federation”he added during this televised meeting.

This is not the first time since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that Vladimir Putin has raised the threat of nuclear weapons. Last March, reacting to the statements of the French President Emmanuel Macron on the possibility of sending European troops to Ukraine, the Russian autocrat had toughened his tone.

“As for the governments that say that they no longer have a red line with Russia, they should know in this case that in Russia, we no longer have a red line with them either.”he had threatened. The Kremlin’s leader then recalled that military doctrine provides for the use of nuclear weapons in the event of an existential threat to Russia.