We would have to use nukes if Ukraine offensive succeeded: Medvedev
The former Russian President depicts a scenario of Ukraine tearing off a part of Russia's land, which prompts using a nuclear weapon according to the rules of a decree from the president of Russia.
-
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman and head of the United Russia Party Dmitry Medvedev speaks during a meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia on July 6, 2022. (AP)
According to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Russia would be compelled to employ nuclear weapons if Kiev's ongoing counter-offensive was to be successful.
Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia's Security Council, which is led by President Vladimir Putin, stated on his official social media accounts that in such a situation, Russia would be obliged to rely on its own nuclear strategy.
Read more: Germany criticizes Ukraine's counter-offensive as ineffective
Medvedev elaborated that if the NATO-backed offensive led Ukraine to tear off a part of Russia, "then we would be forced to use a nuclear weapon according to the rules of a decree from the president of Russia. There would simply be no other option."
By repelling the collective enemy’s counteroffensive, our Armed Forces are defending Russian citizens and our land. It is quite clear to all decent people.
— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) July 30, 2023
Besides that, they are preventing global conflict.
Just imagine that the NATO-supported ukrobanderovtsy’s offensive turned…
Thus, the head of the council expressed that the enemies of Russia should "pray for our warriors' (success)," since that would ensure that nuclear war does not erupt.
Medvedev is referring here to a section of Russia's nuclear doctrine that stipulates that the weapons can be used in response to conventional weapons-based aggression that threatens Russia's very existence as a state.
He has repeatedly warned of the outbreak of nuclear war, most recently in May when he commented on Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's announcement that Poland wanted to host US nuclear weapons.
In February, he warned that Moscow would use all possible means to defend itself, including nukes.
Ukraine's counteroffensive was doomed from the start, and the US knew
The US knew that Ukraine lacked military capabilities, including the necessary training and weapons, to carry out a successful counteroffensive, however, this did not stop it from greenlighting the campaign, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Western military officials put their hopes on Ukrainian "courage and resourcefulness" to carry out the attack. In reality, Ukrainian forces have found it extremely difficult to advance on the frontline and suffered huge losses in lives and equipment.
The report also reveals that Kiev lacked "the mass, training, and resources" to take on the offensive military campaign.
