Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, said Sunday that if Ukraine’s struggling counteroffensive was successful, Russia would have to use nuclear weapons.
“By repelling the collective enemy’s counteroffensive, our Armed Forces are defending Russian citizens and our land. It is quite clear to all decent people. Besides that, they are preventing global conflict,” Medvedev, who served as president from 2008-2012, wrote on Twitter.
Medvedev said that if Ukraine’s counteroffensive was successful and “they took away a part of our land,” Russia would have to “use the nuclear weapon.” He referred to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which allows the use of nukes if Russia feels its existence is threatened.
“There would simply be no other way out. That’s why our enemies must worship our warriors. They are keeping global nuclear fire from flaring up,” he said.
Throughout the war, Medvedev has been known for hawkish rhetoric. He recently said British officials were “legitimate military targets” due to the UK’s support for Ukraine and British comments Moscow viewed as encouraging attacks on civilians inside Russia.
Source: AntiWar.
