Why US nuclear threat fears have grown

Russia no longer has full control over any of the four Ukrainian regions it claims to have annexed.

In recent hours, the Ukrainians have advanced on two fronts, in the east and the south of the country, even as Moscow has tried to raise the stakes by talking about nuclear retaliation.

If Vladimir Putin decides to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, NATO could retaliate by destroying occupation troops in Ukraine, including Crimea, and destroying the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. The statement belongs to David Petraeus, retired American general and former head of the CIA. For officials in Washington, the nuclear threat has increased not so much because of concrete information, but rather as a result of Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric. In the last few hours, however, there have been speculations about possible moves, interpreted as deliberate signals of intimidation on the part of the Russian leader.

John Kirby, the National Security Council’s strategic communications coordinator at the White House: “It’s irresponsible rhetoric coming from a modern nuclear power. Of course we’ve taken a good look at how we can ensure that we can protect our national security interests and those of our NATO allies.”

According to the Italian media, NATO would have warned the member countries that Russia would have set in motion the Belgorod submarine, equipped with a drone capable of triggering an apocalyptic radioactive tsunami. The submarine would have left the base at the Arctic Circle and could be on its way to the Kara Sea, with the mission of conducting a new test of the Poseidon drone.

It is believed to be able to travel considerable distances underwater before detonating causing a colossal tsunami capable of reaching enemy coastal areas.

The Sun pictures a rail convoy of equipment for Russia’s nuclear forces

Also, the British tabloid The Sun publishes images that would capture a railway convoy with equipment for Russia’s nuclear forces. However, it is not known where the train was filmed, nor the direction of travel.

During all this time, the lower house of the Russian Parliament validated the annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Kherson, Zaporozhye, Luhansk and Donetsk.

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister: “On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, I propose to the State Duma to adopt the mentioned bills.”

Viacheslav Volodin, President of the State Duma: “The law is adopted unanimously. 413 deputies voted ‘for’, none ‘against’, no abstentions.”

President Vladimir Putin signed the annexation documents last Friday, based on referendums disputed by the West. But the exact borders that Russia is trying to establish inside Ukraine by annexing the four territories remain unclear.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: “Luhansk and Donetsk have been included in the borders since 2014. In Kherson and Zaporozhye regions we will continue to consult with the population about the borders.”

There is also little information about what will happen to the citizenship of the residents of those regions, The Guardian notes.

Fighting continues on the front

Alex Crawford, Sky News: “The strikes seem to be getting closer and closer. (The Russians) are going in the opposite direction, but they continue to attack. This area has been heavily shelled.”

Woman: “These borders they’re trying to change are for the divisive. They’re sharing a lot of money between them. They don’t care about us who live here. Many of my friends have died.”

Moscow has admitted that the Ukrainian army has managed to penetrate defense lines in the south of the newly annexed Kherson region.

“Sky News reporter: How confident are you that you will recapture the cities of Severodonetsk and Lisichansk?
Ukrainian soldier: 100%. I’m part of Ukraine.”