If Ukraine’s opposition to Russia’s invasion continues, Putin could threaten to use nuclear weapons against the West, writes Bloomberg.
The information comes from a 67-page report from the US Department of Defense, also known as the Pentagon.
According to the newspaper, Lieutenant General Scott Berrier has pointed to the losses the prolonged occupation of parts of Ukrainian territory, has inflicted on Russia.
“It threatens to undermine the Russian military and reduce its arsenal, while sanctions against the country are likely to plunge Russia into prolonged economic depression and diplomatic isolation,” Berrier said.
This will threaten the country’s ability to produce modernized precision-controlled ammunition, the report further states.
– As this war is slowly weakening Russia, they will probably increasingly have to rely on deterrence using nuclear weapons to warn the West.
On February 28, Putin ordered that nuclear weapons be put on standby.
Among the weapons and forces that have been put on high alert are strategic missile units, the country’s northern fleet and Pacific Fleet, as well as the part of the air force that is responsible for firing long-range weapons, both nuclear and conventional.
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