“The Real Threat of a Nuclear Strike on Ukraine by Russia: Insights from Russian Historian and Political Scientist Valery Solovei”

The possibility of a nuclear strike on Ukraine has never left the agenda of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. According to Russian historian and political scientist Valery Solovei, there was a real threat of Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Valery Solovei said that Putin has come close to using nuclear weapons on two occasions since the invasion began in February 2022. The first such case was in the spring of 2022.

“We were literally on the eve of using tactical nuclear weapons for several hours,” Soloway said. According to the historian, then Putin could take such a drastic step rather because of the psychological factor than because of any benefits on the front.

“The second time was fairly recently, as far as I know. Again, I don’t understand the reasons, but it wasn’t an illusory possibility at this point. So the option remains,” he said.

The chance that Putin’s entourage will resist starting a nuclear war and not allow the “red” button to be pressed is much greater now than it was a few months ago. It is not simply a case of non-execution of the order, but of its complete blocking. “Blocking is now something that comes from people endowed with a great deal of power,” Soloway said. At the same time, Putin was not considering a global nuclear attack, but the use of tactical nuclear weapons at one or more points, Solovey specified.

The Russian Federation, even with a very strong desire, will not be able to take real revenge on Kiev for the attack on the center of Moscow, carried out on May 3. The Kremlin is likely to use “intimidation” tactics against Ukraine. This was stated by the former adviser to the head of the presidential office Oleksiy Arestovich.

Russia yesterday accused the United States of being behind a drone attack on the Kremlin that it said was aimed at killing President Vladimir Putin. The White House denied those claims by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. At a press conference in Moscow, Peskov said that Washington should bear in mind that Russia knows that it chooses the targets and Ukraine is simply carrying out American plans. He provided no evidence to support his claim of US involvement.