Putin has ordered Russian nuclear deterrence forces on high alert. Credit: Russia Ministry of DefenseVladimir Putin ordered Russia’s nuclear forces to be on high alert on Sunday in response to what he called “aggressive statements” by leading NATO powers.
Associated Press reports that the order means Putin has ordered Russia’s nuclear weapons prepared for increased readiness to launch, raising the threat that the tensions could boil over into a nuclear war.
In giving it, the Russian leader also cited hard-hitting financial sanctions imposed by the West against Russia, including Putin himself.
Speaking at a meeting with his top officials, Putin directed the Russian defense minister and the chief of the military’s General Staff to put the nuclear deterrent forces in a “special regime of combat duty.”
“Western countries aren’t only taking unfriendly actions against our country in the economic sphere, but top officials from leading NATO members made aggressive statements regarding our country,” Putin said in televised comments.
“I order the minister of defence and the chief of general staff to put deterrent forces on special combat duty”
Putin said aggressive statements by NATO leaders and economic sanctions against Moscow were behind the decision.https://t.co/C6zcRnqQxC pic.twitter.com/d0x0ZjECA4
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 27, 2022
