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Russia Confirms Its Right to Use Nuclear Weapons
The Russian news agency TASS reported today, Thursday, that Sergei Shoigu, the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, affirmed that Russia maintains its right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression from Western countries.
Shoigu explained that the amendments made last year to the Russian nuclear doctrine allow Moscow to use nuclear weapons if Russia or its neighbor and ally Belarus is attacked, including attacks using conventional weapons.
In this context, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the updated nuclear doctrine last November.
The core principles of this doctrine include the following:
- Nuclear weapons are considered a standard measure to protect the country's sovereignty in light of new military threats and risks.
- The list of countries and military alliances covered by nuclear deterrent policies has been expanded.
- A list of military threats that warrant such measures has been added.
- Aggression from any non-nuclear state, with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is considered a joint attack against the Russian Federation.
- A nuclear response from Russia may be employed in the case of a serious threat to its sovereignty, even if attacked with conventional weapons or in the event of an attack on its allies, such as Belarus.
- Threats also include cases of widespread launch of military aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones crossing Russian borders.
