On the 1000th day of the conflict, President Putin revised Russia’s nuclear doctrine, allowing for nuclear weapon use in response to foreign missile strikes. Tensions escalated following Ukraine’s alleged missile attack, leading to a spike in pro-Russian disinformation about nuclear threats. Social media activity surged with discussions of a potential nuclear war, fueled by bot-generated narratives. Misleading videos and statements from Russian media heightened fears, portraying an urgent threat to Europe and promoting panic amid the ongoing conflict.
Putin’s New Nuclear Doctrine: A Significant Shift
On the momentous 1000th day of the ongoing conflict, President Vladimir Putin made headlines by signing a new decree that revises Russia’s nuclear doctrine. This updated policy allows for a more lenient approach regarding the use of nuclear weapons, specifically permitting their deployment in response to foreign missile strikes on Russian soil.
The tensions have escalated dramatically as Moscow accuses Ukraine of firing six American semi-ballistic missiles into its territory. An anonymous high-ranking Ukrainian official confirmed the attack on the Bryansk region, asserting that ATACMS missiles were used. Interestingly, just two days prior, the White House had authorized the use of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against Russia, although President Joe Biden has yet to confirm this information.
Pro-Russian Disinformation: Heightened Nuclear Threats
In this charged atmosphere, pro-Russian social media accounts quickly capitalized on the situation, intensifying fears of a potential nuclear strike. Following the leak of the American decision on November 17, discussions about a “nuclear war” surged on X, leading to an astounding 85,000 tweets within just two days. The prospect of a “third world war” generated even more chatter, with 456,000 messages circulating on the platform.
Research conducted by Agents Media, which focuses on pro-Russian misinformation, revealed that over 1,000 bots pushed a narrative of nuclear conflict, generating 2,665 comments on VKontakte regarding ATACMS. These bots were astoundingly responsive, only missing 6% of the discussions about the American long-range missiles. Illustrating their strategy, Russian trolls have been relentless in promoting panic, even at the expense of spreading misinformation.
One viral clip shared on X and TikTok featured Putin threatening to use nuclear weapons if “enemy missiles” were launched at Russia. While this video was misleadingly framed as a response to Biden, it actually stemmed from a speech in September discussing the evolution of Russia’s nuclear deterrence policy. This tactic underscores the recurrent nature of Russian nuclear threats, aimed at instilling fear and suggesting imminent danger.
Additionally, a segment from Russian state television warned that various European countries could face nuclear strikes if the conflict worsens. This alarming statement, made by propagandist Yevgeny Popov, claimed that “almost all European capitals are threatened.” Despite its virulence, such rhetoric is not new and has been a staple on Russian media since the early days of the conflict.
Finally, on November 17, misleading posts suggested an urgent announcement from Moscow, showcasing a video of Putin’s convoy. While this was portrayed as an emergency situation, the footage was actually a montage of unrelated events from earlier in the year, misleading viewers about the gravity of the situation.
If you have any inquiries or have come across information that appears dubious, do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]. You can also connect with our team on X at @verif_TF1LCI.