A third of Russians back Putin nuking Ukraine with major support

A rising number of Russians are ready to approve Vladimir Putin using nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Some 34 per cent - just over one in three - would definitely or likely support use of the ultimate weapon in the conflict. This is five per cent higher than one year ago, and the highest since Putin launched his illegal war against the sovereign state Ukraine.

The findings from the Levada Centre show 31 per cent are definitely against the use of weapons, while 21 per cent are likely against it. The upward trend shows the success of Russian propagandists seeking to gain support for nuclear use. Putin recently ordered tactical nuclear missile drills in Russia and neighbouring Belarus which he has supplied with atomic weapons. The Kremlin dictator is considering changing the country's nuclear doctrine, to lower the threshold for using such weapons.

Currently he could authorise the use of tactical - or battlefield - nuclear weapons on the basis of a perceived threat to the Russian state from attack by conventional or nuclear weapons. Russia is staging major nuclear missile drills today as Britain ushers in a new government. On the orders of Vladimir Putin, the Yars missile crews practised deployment in two regions, Irkutsk and Ivanovo. A video showed a mobile launcher manoeuvring along forest roads and taking up position before troops covered it in camouflage netting. 'Similar exercises will be held by other missile units in the near future,' said the Russian defence ministry.

Previous such tests were held in late June and they also coincide with Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour government taking over from the Tories in Britain. Russia expects the incoming administration to be as supportive of Ukraine as the outgoing Rishi Sunak government. 'Units of Yars ground mobile missile systems are implementing measures to perform marches to a distance of up to 100km [62 miles], disperse the systems at the same time changing their field positions and their engineering equipment, camouflage them and ensure their combat storage,' said the ministry.

Vladimir Putin 's forces drilled strikes with tactical nuclear weapons on Ukraine or the West with land, air and sea-based launches on June 13. The Russian defence ministry stressed the launches were simulated, but everything else was performed by troops as it would be in a genuine attack. A naval crew was seen pressing the button on a nuclear hit from a warship believed to be in the Baltic Sea to hit a target some 220 miles away, while Tu-22M3 nuclear capable bombers were pictured taking off from an undisclosed airstrip. Meanwhile, a land-based mobile crew in Leningrad Military District in northwest Russia was shown loading suspected Iskander nuclear-capable mobile short-range ballistic missiles, although the warheads were blurred in the footage.

The unsettling footage came as the US announced an expansion of its sanctions regime against the Kremlin, prompting Russia's deputy chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev to declare that Moscow should inflict 'maximum harm on the USA and their '[expletive] allies'. The drills were the second part of several phases of tactical nuclear weapons exercises planned by the Russian defence ministry, which are taking place in coordination with the forces of Belarus . 'The second phase of drills involving Russia's non-strategic nuclear forces included electronic missile launches by rocket units and naval patrol operations,' said a statement from the Russian defence ministry. 'During the second phase of the exercises, personnel from the rocket division of the Leningrad Military District practised covert movement to designated positions and conducted electronic missile launches at simulated enemy targets. 'Additionally, Navy crews involved in the exercise deployed to their assigned patrol areas. 'Earlier, tasks were completed for receiving special training ammunition for arming sea- and land-based missile carriers.'

Tactical nuclear weapons - which top Russian officials have threatened to use - could create horrific devastation but on a lesser scale than the obliteration caused by a much larger strategic nuclear missile. The Russians did not give a location for the targets, but previously threats have included Ukraine or NATO territory. On June 12, footage showed naval crews 'equipping sea-based cruise missiles with training special warheads' before moving to 'designated patrol areas'. Nuclear-equipped 3M-80/82 Moskit/-M anti-ship missiles were reportedly shown being loaded into the launcher of a Project 12411M vessel of Russia's Baltic Fleet. Russian ally Belarus is also involved in the second stage of the tactical nuclear missile tests currently in progress. Moscow has claimed it wants the tactical nuclear drills to 'cool the hot heads in Western capitals'.

This followed French President Emmanuel Macron hinting at sending European troops to fight in Ukraine. Former British Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron also said Kyiv had the right to use weapons provided by London to strike targets inside Russia. Since then, the US has permitted Kyiv to use American missiles to attack border region targets inside Russia used to hit Ukraine. In a stunning rant published on the Telegram messaging app in June, former Russian President Medvedev hit out at the US and Western partners after the White House announced it had expanded its sanctions regime on Moscow.

'Here are the new American sanctions. There will be new European ones soon. Do we need to respond to them? It seems not, their number is already measured in tens of thousands. We have learned to live and develop with them. 'On the other hand, it is necessary. Not only to the authorities, the state, but to all our people in general. To everyone who loves our Motherland - Russia. After all, they - the USA and their [expletive] allies - declared war on us without rules!

He went on: 'Every day we must try to inflict maximum harm on those countries that have imposed these restrictions on our country and all our citizens. Harm in everything that can cause harm. Harm to their economies, their institutions and their rulers. Harm to the well-being of their citizens. 'Cause damage in all places, paralyzing the work of their companies and government agencies. Find problems in their most important technologies and strike them mercilessly. Literally destroy their energy, industry, transport, banking and social services. Instill fear of the imminent collapse of all critical infrastructure. He concluded the rant with a terrifying call to action. 'Let's turn their life into a complete crazy nightmare in which they will not be able to distinguish wild fiction from the realities of the day, infernal evil from the routine of life. And no rules regarding the enemy! 'Let them get everything in full for harming Russia and as painfully as possible! Everyone can contribute!,' he said.

Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.