On Wednesday, Russian leader Vladimir Putin declared that if their sovereignty or independence is jeopardized, Russia is ready to employ nuclear weapons. He also cautioned the USA against sending troops to intervene in Ukraine, stating that it would be seen as a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.

The Russian President, Putin, stated on national television that there was no necessity for deploying nuclear weapons during their two-year military action in Ukraine. He also stated that he does not believe the world is heading towards a nuclear conflict. He described the current U.S. president, Joe Biden, as an experienced politician who comprehends the risks of nuclear warfare.

However, Putin’s statements seem to be a consistent indication to the Western world that Russia is committed to defending its territorial advancements in Ukraine and is prepared to utilize nuclear arms if there is a risk to the “survival of the Russian nation, our autonomy, and our self-governance.”

He stated that we have not altered anything written in our strategy.

Putin made a comment about NATO allies aiding Kyiv, stating that if these nations claim to have no boundaries when it comes to Russia, then Russia will also have no boundaries towards them.

However, he also mentioned that there are plenty of experts in Russian-American relations and strategic restraint in the United States. Therefore, he does not believe that a nuclear confrontation is inevitable. However, he also stated that they are prepared for it if necessary.

Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated that throughout the conflict, Russia’s language regarding nuclear weapons has been careless and irresponsible. She also emphasized that Russia was the aggressor in invading Ukraine without cause or reasoning, and the United States will stand by Ukraine as they protect their citizens and territory from Russian aggression.

According to a high-level member of the White House, Russia’s nuclear doctrine upholds their use of nuclear weapons as a response to any threat to their sovereignty. This is not a new standpoint for them. There has been no evidence to prompt a change in our own nuclear strategy, and there is no indication that Russia is planning to deploy nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Biden has asserted multiple times that the U.S. does not plan to deploy American troops to support Kiev’s forces. However, French President Emmanuel Macron has not completely ruled out the option of Western troops getting involved in the ongoing conflict that shows no signs of resolution.

Despite ongoing tensions, Western nations have not stopped providing military support to Ukraine. Just this week, the U.S. has put together a shipment of $300 million worth of weaponry, including anti-aircraft missiles and artillery rounds, from its military reserves to assist Kyiv’s troops. However, a larger aid package of $60 billion, backed by Biden, is currently held up in Congress.

In a statement to Reuters, Mykhailo Podolyak, a high-ranking official in the Ukrainian presidential administration, expressed his belief that Putin’s nuclear warning was simply a form of propaganda meant to instill fear in the Western world.

According to Podolyak, Putin is resorting to traditional nuclear rhetoric as he recognizes that things are not going according to plan. He seems to be holding onto the old Soviet tactic of instilling fear and causing retreat. This indicates that Putin is fearful of losing the war.

The Ukrainian military utilized drones during the conflict to strike Russian oil refineries on Wednesday, resulting in damage to a facility in the Ryazan region.

According to initial reports, Pavel Malkov, the governor of the Ryazan region, stated that a fire and injuries were caused by an attack at an oil refinery.

Authorities in Leningrad Region reported that a Ukrainian drone was destroyed by Russian air defenses while attempting to approach a refinery, with no resulting damage.

A series of Ukrainian drones were sent into Russian territory for the second day in a row as part of an onslaught.

On Wednesday, Alexander Gusev, the governor of the Voronezh region which shares a border with Ukraine, announced that over 30 drones belonging to Ukraine were successfully taken down by our air defense system during the night.

Two Russian fuel sites were damaged by Ukrainian drones on Tuesday.

According to Ukrainian authorities, a Russian missile struck a residential complex in the central town of Kryvyi Rih on Tuesday, resulting in the death of three individuals and the injury of 38 others.

Oleksandr Vilkul, leader of the military management in Kryvyi Rih, reported that the attack on the structure was one of three projectiles that struck the town. Kryvyi Rih is the birthplace of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and has been frequently targeted by Russian assaults.

Zelenskyy shared his sympathies on social media and expressed gratitude to the rescuers for aiding in the situation.

Each day, our urban and rural areas face repeat attacks. Each day, Ukraine experiences loss of life due to Russian aggression,” the author stated. “We must not pause our support for protecting innocent lives and rescuing people from terror, not even for a single day, week, or month.”

Patsy Widakuswara, the White House correspondent for VOA, contributed to this report. Agence France-Presse and Reuters also provided information.

Source: voanews.com