Vladimir Putin issued a fresh, terrifying warning to the West as he claimed Russian nuclear forces now have at their disposal 95 percent of modernised weaponry.
Attending a Defence Ministry meeting in Moscow, the Russian President added the strategic forces are being kept at the highest level of readiness given the “hybrid war” – the military and political support provided by the UK, EU and US to invaded Ukraine – being waged by the West against Russia.
Putin’s claims on the readiness of Russian forces appear to be more than empty threats, as Kusti Salm, a senior Estonian defence ministry official, claimed the country’s ammunition production is now seven times greater than that of the West.
During the same meeting, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu the country had introduced the Avangard hypersonic nuclear missile to its forces.
This is far from being the first time either Putin or one of his allies and mouthpieces has issued a nuclear threat to the West.
Nikolai Patrushev, Putin’s close confidant and the secretary of the Russian Security Council, alleged in November that Russia had surpassed all other countries in terms of nuclear proficiency.
A few days later, Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov claimed a nuclear war was “unavoidable”, suggesting Russia could use its arsenal against Ukraine, a non-nuclear nation.
During his meeting with Defence leaders, Putin claimed Russian forces “have the initiative” in Ukraine – the country his troops invaded in February 2022.
He claimed, without showing evidence, that Kyiv has “suffered heavy losses and has largely squandered its reserves” over the past 22 months of conflict.
Last month, historian Yaroslav Tynchenko and volunteer Herman Shapovalenko said that, following an analysis of open sources, they believed the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed in combat and non-combat situations was more than 30,000.
On the other hand, the Ukrainian military claims the losses experienced so far by Russia – which has a larger army and a greater population than Ukraine – amount to more than 349,000 troops. Ukraine, much like Russia, doesn’t disclose the number of its war deceased.
During his Defence Ministry meeting, Putin also claimed the “myth of invulnerability of Western military equipment” has “collapsed” during the war in Ukraine.
He said: “All attempts, as they say in the West, to inflict a strategic military defeat on us were beaten by the courage and fortitude of our soldiers, clashing with the greater power of our armed forces, the potential of the national industry and defence production.”
Ukraine, which heavily relies on Western military support to fight its war, is still waiting for the US and the EU to agree on the release of billions worth of aid, as supplies risk drying up.
The Russian President added Ukraine’s accession to NATO will not ever be acceptable to Moscow.
