A top secret Russian nuclear base was ‘put on combat alert the day Putin sent troops into Ukraine’ (Image: Getty)
A top secret nuclear base was placed on combat alert in the day ordered the full-scale invasion of , a deserter has said.
The former Russian nuclear forces officer said before February 2022, the base where he worked only carried out exercises, but on the day the war began, “the weapons were fully in place”.
In a chilling insight, Anton, not his real name, told the : “We were ready to launch the forces into the sea and air and, in theory, carry out a nuclear strike.”
According to the , Anton fled with the help of a volunteer organisation for deserters after refusing to participate in Putin’s war.
Moscow announced ‘s nuclear deterrence forces had been placed on a special mode of combat service three days after Putin’s troops invaded . But Anton told the broadcaster the combat alert was in place from day one of the wider war.
Anton, not his real name, says Russia’s nuclear weapons were ‘combat ready’ (Image: BBC)
He dismissed claims from some experts that ‘s nukes date from the Soviet period, arguing there may be some “old-fashioned” weapons, but the country has “an enormous” nuclear arsenal, with “constant” combrat patrols on land, sea and in the air.
Earlier this month, declaring a conventional attack on by any nation supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country.
Putin’s endorsement of the new nuclear deterrent policy came on the 1,000th day after he sent troops into on February 24, 2022.
It followed US President ’s decision to let strike targets inside with US-supplied longer-range missiles.
‘s doctrine says any massive aerial attack on the country could trigger a nuclear response. It also reflects Putin’s readiness to threaten use of the country’s nuclear arsenal to force the West to back down as Moscow pushes forward with its offensive in .
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Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a revised nuclear doctrine (Image: Getty)
The move appears to broaden the triggers for possible nuclear weapons use compared with the previous version of the document, which stated could tap its nuclear arsenal if “reliable information” is received about the launch of ballistic missiles targeting Russian territory or that of its allies.
Hawks in had been calling for toughening the doctrine for months, arguing the old version failed to deter the West from boosting aid to and gave the impression Moscow would not resort to nuclear weapons.
has 5,580 nuclear warheads, according to the Arms Control Association, citing figures from the Federation of American Scientists and others.
This compares to the United States (5,748), China (500), France (290), UK (225), India (172), Pakistan (170), (90) and North Korea (50).
has about 4,380 operational nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists, with 1,700 reportedly ready for use.