Russia Drafts Nuclear Policy Update Amid Rising Border Tensions
Nuclear weapons at a military parade in Moscow, 2024. X/ @yenisafakEN
September 30, 2024 Hour: 5:45 am
Last week, President Putin called for updating his country’s nuclear deterrence policy at a Security Council meeting.
On Sunday, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said taht his country’s nuclear policy amendments were drafted in response to the heightened tensions along its borders.
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During an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin, he highlighted that nuclear powers are backing Ukraine in the conflict and that NATO military infrastructure is being positioned increasingly close to the Russian borders. He mentioned that the update has already been drafted and will soon be formalized.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for updating the foundations of Russia’s state policy on nuclear deterrence at a Security Council meeting on Wednesday, adding that it must be adapted to the current realities. He also noted that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is proposed to be considered as their joint attack on the country.
Russia will also consider using nuclear weapons upon receiving reliable information about the massive launch of aerospace attack weapons, including strategic or tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and hypersonic and other aircraft across Russia’s border, Putin said.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that its air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 125 Ukrainian drones overnight in seven regions and over the Sea of Azov.
According to the ministry, 67 drones were shot down over the Volgograd region, 17 over Belgorod, 17 over Voronezh, and 18 over the Rostov region. Additionally, one drone was intercepted over Bryansk, Kursk, and Krasnodar, respectively, while three were neutralized over the Sea of Azov. In the aftermath of the drone strikes, several fires ignited in and around Voronezh due to falling debris, but local emergency services confirmed that all fires have since been extinguished.
Earlier, Voronezh Governor Alexander Gusev said on Telegram that a falling drone struck a residential complex on Moscow Avenue, causing a fire. Additional fires were also reported in residential areas of the left-bank district. Several other drones were shot down and caught fire on the outskirts of the city. Gusev said there were no immediate reports of casualties.
teleSUR/ JF Source: Xinhua
