Putin Threatens with Nuclear Response to Conventional Drone Attacks

25 September, 2024 Launch of the Yars ICBM. Photo from open sources The Russian Federation will introduce changes to the nuclear deterrence doctrine that will allow the use of nuclear weapons in response to attacks by non-nuclear states using conventional weapons.

The Russian mass media reported on this. "The updated version of the document proposes to consider aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, as their joint attack on Russia," Russian President Vladimir Putin stated. The use of nuclear weapons will be considered "already upon receipt of reliable information about the massive launch of air and space attack means and their crossing of the state border."

In addition to strategic aviation, it can include tactical aviation, "cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other aircraft." Moreover, Russia also reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Belarus, including with the use of conventional weapons.

The current "Fundamentals of State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence" were signed by Putin and first published in June 2020. According to this document, the Russian president may decide to launch a nuclear strike in the event of a ballistic missile attack against Russia or its ally, or the use of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction against Russia or its ally. In addition, nuclear weapons could be used after enemy attacks on critical state or military facilities and in case of an existential threat to the state.

Failure of Russian intercontinental ballistic missile tests

Militarnyi previously reported about the explosion of the engine of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile at the Plesetsk test site.

The explosion created a giant crater almost 62 meters wide, in which elements of the launch shaft were visible. The images show that the powerful explosion caused significant damage to the surrounding buildings, with almost the entire site covered in debris and earth. Considering this incident, Russia has managed to conduct only one successful launch of the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile out of 5 attempts, with the sole success occurring on April 20, 2022.

Source: George Barros

The RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile is presented by the Russian Ministry of Defense as a crucial advancement in nuclear deterrence.