Russia is considering lowering the threshold for activating its nuclear weapons, as Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov revealed concerns over potential use of nukes in Ukraine by President Putin amid growing Western support.
Ryabkov told reporters that Moscow is constantly analyzing the possibility of lowering the bar for nuclear weapons usage due to changing security situations, although nothing has changed; tactical nuclear weapons exercises have been ordered by Putin.
Documents seen by Financial Times suggest that Russia’s nuclear threshold is lower than previously declared, allowing for nuclear strikes in scenarios involving defeat of defending units, enemy landing on Russian territory, destruction of key military assets.
Military experts have expressed alarm at the scenario presented in the documents, indicating a low operational threshold for using nuclear weapons if desired outcomes cannot be achieved through conventional means.
