The Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has approved the updated national policy on nuclear deterrence.
The decree, which has been published by state propaganda media, came into effect today, November 19.
Russia threatens with nuclear weapons again: how many and what types of warheads does it have in its arsenalHow many strategic and tactical nuclear warheads Russia has – in the infographic.The document states that Russia views nuclear weapons as "a means of deterrence, whose use is a last resort and an extreme measure," and that it "takes all necessary efforts to reduce nuclear threats."
As a potential adversary against which nuclear deterrence is conducted, Russia identifies "certain states and military coalitions (blocks, alliances) that regard the Russian Federation as a potential opponent and possess nuclear and/or other types of weapons of mass destruction or significant combat potential of general-purpose forces." Furthermore, nuclear deterrence is aimed at countries that "provide their territory and resources for the preparation and execution of aggression against Russia."
Another point specifies that Russia will perceive aggression from any state within a coalition (block, alliance) as aggression against that coalition as a whole, and aggression from a non-nuclear state involving or supported by a nuclear state will be regarded as a joint attack.
Russia is now prepared to use nuclear weapons under the following conditions:
- Receiving reliable information about the launch of ballistic missiles targeting the territories of Russia and/or its allies;
- The application of nuclear or other types of weapons of mass destruction by an adversary against the territories of Russia and/or its allies, military formations, and/or facilities of the Russian Federation located outside its territory;
- Adversarial actions against critically important state or military facilities of the Russian Federation, the incapacitation of which would disrupt the retaliatory capabilities of nuclear forces;
- Aggression against Russia or Belarus using conventional weapons, creating a critical threat to their sovereignty and territorial integrity;
- Receiving reliable information about a massive launch (takeoff) of aerospace attack means (strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other flying vehicles) crossing the state border of the Russian Federation.
The doctrine states that the decision to use nuclear weapons is made by Putin.
Recall that Putin proposed to update the nuclear deterrence doctrine at the end of September. The Kremlin stated that the changes should be viewed as "a certain signal" to the West.
Earlier, media reported that U.S. President Joe Biden had authorized Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles against Russian territory for the first time. Analysts believe that Putin may respond to the West's permission to strike Russia with nuclear testing.
What the Russian nuclear arsenal comprises – see the infographic by "Slovo i Delo."
We also discussed under what circumstances other countries may use nuclear weapons.