Russia ready to use all types of weapons depending on threat: Medvedev

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Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman, underlined on Saturday that in the event of Ukraine's attack on Russia, Moscow is ready to use all types of weapons depending on the nature of the threats.

"Our response could be anything. Russian President [Vladimir Putin] has made this quite clear. We have no restrictions and are prepared to use all kinds of weapons depending on the nature of the threats," Medvedev told reporters in response to a corresponding question.

The Russian official warned that in accordance with the doctrinal documents, including Russia's state policy on nuclear deterrence, the response to any attack on Russia will be "swift, firm, and convincing."

Russian news agency TASS said that according to the Russian nuclear doctrine, Russia may use nuclear weapons if nuclear or other types of weapons of mass destruction are used against Russia or its allies, if it receives verified information about a start of ballistic missiles for attack on Russia or its allies, in case of enemy influence on facilities, vital for response nuclear action, and in case of conventional aggression against Russia, if the very existence of the state is endangered.

Medvedev's remarks come one day after the Pentagon announced the US will provide Ukraine with ground-launched small-diameter bombs (GLSDB) that may nearly increase Kiev's strike range against Moscow as part of a new $2.2 billion US aid package.

With its maximum range of 150 kilometers,  the GLSDB will give Ukrainians "a longer range capability ... that will enable them to conduct operations in defense of their country and to take back their sovereign territory," according to Pentagon Spokesperson Pat Ryder, who claimed he was unaware of Ukraine's intended targets. 

With the GLSDB, Ukrainian forces may be able to launch attacks anywhere in Crimea, Zaporozhye, Kherson areas, and the Donbass. Important Russian supply routes, arsenals, and air bases may be in jeopardy as a result.

On Tuesday, Reuters cited two US military officials as saying that Washington rebuffed Ukraine's request for Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which weigh twice as much as the GLSDB, and have a range of 297 km.

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