Ex-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev threatens ‘global nuclear fire’ over Ukraine counteroffensive: ‘No other option’
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ominously warned that the Kremlin would have “no other option” but to ignite “a global nuclear fire” if Ukraine’s counteroffensive on Russian soil is successful.
Medvedev, current deputy chairman of Russia’s security council, gave his latest nuke warning on Sunday, as the Kremlin labeled a drone attack on a Moscow high-rise an “attempted terrorist attack” by Kyiv.
“Imagine if the … offensive, which is backed by NATO, was a success and they tore off a part of our land then we would be forced to use a nuclear weapon,” he wrote.
That would be justified “according to the rules of a decree from the president of Russia,” he said, seemingly referring to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which allows nukes to be used in response to attacks with conventional weapons.
“There would simply be no other option,” he maintained.
“So our enemies should pray for our warriors’ (success). They are making sure that a global nuclear fire is not ignited.”
Medvedev, who was president from 2008 to 2012, has repeatedly warned of such a doomsday scenario, which has not happened since the US nuked Japan in 1945, killing hundreds of thousands of civilians.
His latest threat followed Ukraine striking a high-rise in Moscow’s business district, injuring a security guard in the third attack on the capital region of the week.
While Ukraine had received significant weaponry from its NATO allies, the country was unlikely to be admitted to the alliance while it was being invaded, in order to avoid a potential third world war, leaders said.
Russia’s 17-month-old invasion was aimed at reclaiming the former Soviet territory before it could join the powerful bloc and bring the West closer to its backyard.
However, Norway, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and most recently Finland are all NATO members that border the massive country.
Ukraine had vowed to retake illegally annexed Russian territory along the nations’ shared border.
Kyiv had reported gains amid heavy fighting in its northeast region Sunday, as Ukrainian forces said they retook ground near Bakhmut, which fell to Russia in May.
With Post wires
