Due to what was described as “aggressive statements” by Western adversaries, President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian nuclear forces to be placed on high alert.
This means Putin has ordered Russia’s nuclear weapons to be prepared for heightened readiness to launch.
This further raises the possibility of the Russia-Ukraine war escalating to a nuclear war.
During a meeting with top Russian officials, Putin directed the Russian defence minister and the chief of the military’s General Staff to put the nuclear deterrent forces in a “special regime of combat duty”.
“Western countries aren’t only taking unfriendly actions against our country in the economic sphere, but top officials from leading NATO members made aggressive statements regarding our country,” Putin said in televised remarks.
The startling measure came as street fighting broke out in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, as part of advances that appeared to be a part of a new phase of Russia’s invasion of its western neighbour.
Until yesterday, Russian forces had stayed on the periphery of Kharkiv, a city with a population of about 1.4 million.
Videos posted on Ukrainian media and social networks showed Russian vehicles driving across Kharkiv and troops roaming the city in small groups.
One video showed Ukrainian troops firing at the Russians and damaged Russian utility vehicles abandoned nearby.
