NATO condemns Russian nuclear threats amid continuous strikes across Ukraine
NATO condemned irresponsible Russian nuclear rhetoric on Tuesday. The warning came after Moscow threatened to deploy its entire arsenal if the alliance attempts to isolate its Kaliningrad exclave.
Diplomatic Clash Over Kaliningrad Threats
The standoff intensified after Moscow transmitted an unofficial diplomatic paper to NATO headquarters. The communication warned that Russian forces are prepared to use all available capabilities to protect their territory if Western allies try to cut off the Russian exclave bordered by Poland and Lithuania.
Allison Hart, a spokesperson for the alliance, confirmed receipt of the communication and detailed NATO’s formal reply.
“I can confirm that Russia sent a non-paper to NATO and that we have sent a response, noting that NATO is a defensive Alliance and none of our activities or exercises pose a risk to any part of Russia,” Hart said, adding a direct condemnation of the threats. “We strongly denounce the threat of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric. We call on Russia to end its unprovoked war in Ukraine.”
The diplomatic friction mirrors heightened security concerns across the region. In neighboring Lithuania, authorities have established evacuation plans for residents of Vilnius along the Polish border in the event of a severe security crisis. Meanwhile, Czech President Petr Pavel stated his country is ready to fulfill its obligations to NATO and send troops to assist the Baltic countries in the event of a possible Russian attack.
Day-and-Night Bombardments Across Ukraine
On the battlefield, Russian forces subjected Kyiv and other urban centers to continuous day-and-night bombardments. The Ukrainian air force reported that Moscow launched ballistic missiles alongside waves of jet-powered drones designed to fly at speeds and altitudes that render traditional ground-based air defenses ineffective.
Overnight strikes hit two datacentres in Kyiv, according to the Russian defence ministry. Separate strikes targeted a military-linked cargo vessel in the Black Sea and another cargo-carrying vessel in the Ukrainian port of Odesa, which Moscow asserted were transporting supplies for the Ukrainian armed forces.
The relentless daytime attacks prompted Kyiv’s Taras Shevchenko National University to order students to stay home. The institution announced it would shift exclusively to remote learning until at least October 16 due to the deteriorating security situation in the capital, following a drone strike on Monday that hit the nearby National Academy of Sciences and killed one person.
Deadly Strikes and Regional Casualties
In Sumy, Russian glide bombs struck a local school on Tuesday, killing two people and injuring six others, including three children. Oleh Hryhorov, the regional governor, stated that teachers and school officials successfully evacuated approximately 100 people before the impact.
Amid the sustained aerial campaigns, Ukraine secured critical defense reinforcements. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Belgium will transfer three F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of the year. Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv has already received urgent ammunition deliveries for the aircraft from Belgium, Spain, and other partners, alongside a NASAMS air defence system developed jointly by the United States and Norway.
Moscow Reallocates Budget for Defense
The protracted conflict continues to exert severe pressure on Russia’s domestic economy. Fiscal documents reviewed by Reuters indicate that Moscow plans to cut state spending on welfare, education, and healthcare next year to finance surging military expenditures. Russia has earmarked 17.1tn roubles (US$202.58bn) for defense in 2027—marking a 27% increase over originally budgeted figures and the highest level since the war began in 2022.
Under the revised budget projections, funding for social policy, which covers pensions, veteran payments, and maternity benefits, will shrink by 7%. Allocations for education and healthcare will drop by 6% and 6.8%, respectively.
Diplomatic Contacts and Bomber Crash
The financial strain coincides with high-level diplomatic contacts regarding potential post-war frameworks. Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s foreign investment envoy, held discussions in Washington with U.S. officials regarding prospective post-conflict energy initiatives. A U.S. government official confirmed the talks followed recent meetings in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Separately, a Russian nuclear-capable strategic bomber crashed on Tuesday during a training mission in the country’s far east. The Russian defence ministry reported that the Tu-95 aircraft went down in an unpopulated area of the Amur region, resulting in the deaths of six crew members. One crew member survived the crash and was hospitalized with injuries.