Russia has updated its nuclear doctrine to say that in some circumstances, a conventional attack on Russia would be considered a sufficient threat to launch nuclear retaliation.
Today marks the 1,000th day since Russia attempted a blitzkrieg attack to capture Kiev and other major Ukrainian cities, encountering stronger resistance than expected. Logistical difficultiesleading to nearly three years of bloody war. Russia follows clear signals that the US, in the waning days of President Joe Biden's administration, is prepared to step up the war by allowing Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to strike deep into Russia. The federation has made it clear that it may consider it. Such an attack raises the question of nuclear retaliation.
However, Ukraine wasted no time and this morning is claimed to have launched its first long-range missile attack on Russia's interior.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law the country's new nuclear doctrine on Tuesday morning, according to Kremlin state media. The document is currently being revised for the third time in 15 years, said to be prompted by “new military threats” faced by Russia after the decision to re-invade Ukraine.
“The amended doctrine expands the scope of states and military alliances subject to nuclear deterrence, as well as the list of military threats that such deterrence is designed to counter,” Moscow said in a statement. There is.
Crucially for Western military planners, Russia now considers “any attack” by a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear-armed state to be similar to the US, France and UK support for Ukraine. It's about being there. It is a “joint attack” and there is a risk of a nuclear reaction. Such attacks include conventional weapons attacks that threaten Russia's “sovereignty” and “massive launches of enemy aircraft, missiles, and drones targeting Russian territory.”
This doctrine encompasses not only Russian territory, but also Belarus, which shares a significant border with the European Union and has recently been fully integrated into Russia's nuclear defense system.
President Putin's signing of the new document has been interpreted as a reaction, among other things, to US President Joe Biden's alleged agreement to allow Ukraine to launch long-range missile attacks deep into Russia's hinterland. There is. These claims have not yet been confirmed by the White House, and Russia's new nuclear doctrine has not been considered since at least September, when discussions about a possible long-range attack on Ukraine by U.S. and European weapons began in earnest. has been progressing.
Nevertheless, Russia has expressed extreme aversion to claims that the White House authorized the missile attack, with several Kremlin leaders warning of escalation, and even that such an attack would be a serious threat between the US and Russia. Putin's previous claim that it meant a state of war.
