Medvedev threatens “retaliatory strikes”. Kyiv was called to ignore him

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev once again indirectly threatened Ukraine with a nuclear strike. Responding to journalist Nadana Friedrichson’s questions, Medvedev, in particular, said that if Ukraine strikes the annexed Crimea or “into Russia”, “Russia’s response can be any”.

“We do not set any restrictions and, depending on the nature of the threats, we are ready to use all types of weapons. In accordance with our doctrinal documents, including the Basics of Nuclear Deterrence,” said Medvedev’s response, which Friedrichson published on her Telegram channel. The former president of Russia also expressed the opinion that possible strikes on Russian objects in Crimea will not lead to the beginning of negotiations, but to “retaliatory strikes”: “The entire remaining Ukraine under Kyiv’s rule will burn up.”

Counselor of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podoliak, wrote on Twitter that Ukraine, in accordance with international law, can liberate its territories, including Crimea, “using any means.” “Therefore, threats by Russian officials about “retaliatory strikes” are only a confirmation of the intention to commit mass murders and an attempt to intimidate in the traditional style of the Russian Federation. Always ignore Medvedev,” wrote Podolyak.

On Friday, the United States officially announced that, as part of a new aid package from the United States, Kyiv will for the first time receive high-precision bombs with a GLSDB rocket engine with a flight range of up to 150 kilometers. Previously, the USA sent missiles to Ukraine only with a flight range of up to 80 kilometers. The new weapon will theoretically allow the armed forces of Ukraine to hit targets in the north of the Crimean peninsula. Official Kyiv declares that it will not carry out strikes on the internationally recognized territory of Russia. This restriction does not apply to Crimea.

• Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Medvedev has repeatedly stated that Russia could use nuclear weapons, threatening not only Kyiv, but also Western countries. He justified this by the fact that a possible offensive by the Ukrainian army would ostensibly threaten the territorial integrity and very existence of Russia. Such a threat, in turn, is one of the reasons for the use of nuclear weapons in the Russian nuclear doctrine.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin said on February 2 that if the supply of armored vehicles to Ukraine by Western countries poses a threat to Russia, Moscow will take retaliatory measures, “and the matter will not end with the use of armored vehicles.”
• The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, believes that Russia will not use nuclear weapons, even if Ukrainian troops continue their offensive and enter the annexed Crimea. Budanov said this in an interview with The Washington Post. According to him, Ukraine will do everything to restore control over Crimea by the summer of this year.