Winter is coming: Russia ups the nuclear ante as Ukraine conflict intensifies

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict neared the eight-month-mark, Moscow has stepped up its assault in opposition to Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin has additionally hinted that it could be pressured to make use of a tactical nuclear weapon in opposition to Ukraine.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 26, 2022 20:41 IST

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AFP photograph)

By India Today Web Desk: The specter of a nuclear conflict has been hanging over the world since Russia invaded Ukraine in February this 12 months. Eight months into the conflict, and within the face of Ukrainian forces’ continued resistance, Russian President Vladimir Putin has as soon as once more fallen again on invoking his nation’s atomic arsenal. With the navy assaults in Ukraine intensifying and amid the ever-present risk of nuclear warfare, it’s going to be an extended winter for the residents within the war-torn nation.

Ukraine has been reeling from a sequence of drone strikes by Russian forces, with Moscow launching dozens of “kamikaze” drones on Ukraine final week, hanging vitality infrastructure and killing a number of civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has alleged that Russian plan to explode a hydroelectric dam that may flood a big a part of southern Ukraine. Zelenskyy stated Russian forces have planted explosives inside the massive Nova Kakhovka dam, which holds again an infinite reservoir.

Apart from stepping up assault in Ukraine, Russia has additionally knowledgeable the US that it plans to hold out annual drills of its nuclear stash and forces. The US estimates that Russia will perform nuke weapon checks throughout its annual ‘Grom’ workout routines of the strategic nuclear forces. Experts have considered the event as a possible risk to the US and its allies as Putin declared the possibilities of utilizing nuclear weapons to maintain from dropping the conflict.

RUSSIA UPS NUCLEAR ANTE

Russia has accused Ukraine of plotting to make use of a bomb laced with radioactive materials within the Russia-occupied city of Kherson. The declare has been rejected by Kyiv, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba claiming that the allegations are absurd and harmful. He added, “Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves.”

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A ‘soiled bomb’ is designed to infect a large space with radioactive materials, making it harmful for civilians. It doesn’t contain a nuclear explosion.

The Kremlin, whereas warning of a ‘dirty bomb’ assault by Ukraine, has additionally hinted that it could be pressured to make use of a tactical nuclear weapon in opposition to Ukraine if Kyiv drops a ‘soiled bomb’.

US RESPONSE TO RUSSIAN NUCLEAR THREAT

Responding to the Russian tactical nuclear risk, US President Joe Biden stated any nuke assault could be a “serious mistake”. Russia could be making an extremely critical mistake have been it to make use of a tactical nuclear weapon, he stated.

The US suspects Russia may itself use a grimy bomb in a “false flag” assault, presumably to justify using typical nuclear weapons by Moscow.

When requested whether or not Russia was making ready to deploy a “dirty bomb” or a nuclear weapon, Joe Biden stated, “I’m not guaranteeing you that it’s a false-flag operation yet; I don’t know. But it would be a serious, serious mistake.”

INDIA URGES RUSSIA, UKRAINE TO AVOID NUCLEAR WAR

Amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu that the nuclear choice shouldn’t be resorted to by any aspect and the disaster needs to be resolved by way of dialogue and diplomacy.

Rajnath Singh informed Shoigu that nuclear conflict needs to be prevented in any respect prices as using such weapons is in opposition to the essential tenets of humanity.

ALSO READ | Russia, Ukraine to go all out for Kherson amid nuclear, ‘soiled bomb’ threats

Published On:

Oct 26, 2022