A fugitive Russian officer revealed military secrets
World
A former Russian Federation (RF) officer who fled Russia spoke to the BBC about the state of the Russian nuclear arsenal. According to him, Russia maintains nuclear weapons in full operational condition. According to him, Russia maintains its nuclear weapons in full combat readiness.
On the day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, at least one of the RF's nuclear arsenal storage bases was brought to full combat readiness. This was revealed by a former officer of Russia's nuclear forces, who deserted and fled the country, in an interview with the BBC. The material was published on November 26, Tuesday.
"Before this, we only had exercises. But on the day the war began, the weapons were fully prepared. We were ready to deploy naval and air forces, and theoretically, to deliver a nuclear strike," he said.
RF President Vladimir Putin issued an order on February 27, 2022, to put Russia's deterrent forces on special combat duty.
According to the BBC source, on the first day of the war, a combat alert was declared at his base, and his unit was "locked inside the base." The heightened readiness regime was canceled within two to three weeks.
"Work on maintaining nuclear weapons is carried out constantly"
The BBC source, who was part of the rapid response forces, rejected claims that nuclear weapons still produced during the Soviet era could be non-operational in Russia.
"In some regions, there may be some old types of weapons, but the country has a huge nuclear arsenal, a large number of warheads, including constant combat patrolling on land, at sea, and in the air," he said. "The work to maintain nuclear weapons is carried out constantly; it does not stop for even a minute."
He fled Russia with the help of the volunteer organization "Go to the Forest" and now helps other soldiers leave the country. "I understand that the more I do this, the higher the probability that they will try to kill me," he added.
The RF President's decree on "The Basics of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence" was published on the official legal acts portal of the RF on November 19, 2024.
The updated doctrine states that Moscow will consider a nuclear response if reliable information is received about the launch of strategic and tactical aviation, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic, and other aircraft from the country.
The doctrine also mentions that Russia may use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Belarus as a member of the Union State. Moreover, according to the doctrine, nuclear weapons may be used by Russia if a critical threat to the country's sovereignty arises.
Some media outlets noted that the updated nuclear doctrine was made public shortly after the appearance on November 17 in The New York Times, which reported that the U.S. had allowed Ukraine to strike Russian territory using ATACMS missiles.
"Before this, we only had exercises. But on the day the war began, the weapons were fully prepared. We were ready to deploy naval and air forces, and theoretically, to deliver a nuclear strike," he said.
RF President Vladimir Putin issued an order on February 27, 2022, to put Russia's deterrent forces on special combat duty.
According to the BBC source, on the first day of the war, a combat alert was declared at his base, and his unit was "locked inside the base." The heightened readiness regime was canceled within two to three weeks.
"Work on maintaining nuclear weapons is carried out constantly"
The BBC source, who was part of the rapid response forces, rejected claims that nuclear weapons still produced during the Soviet era could be non-operational in Russia.
"In some regions, there may be some old types of weapons, but the country has a huge nuclear arsenal, a large number of warheads, including constant combat patrolling on land, at sea, and in the air," he said. "The work to maintain nuclear weapons is carried out constantly; it does not stop for even a minute."
He fled Russia with the help of the volunteer organization "Go to the Forest" and now helps other soldiers leave the country. "I understand that the more I do this, the higher the probability that they will try to kill me," he added.
The RF President's decree on "The Basics of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence" was published on the official legal acts portal of the RF on November 19, 2024.
The updated doctrine states that Moscow will consider a nuclear response if reliable information is received about the launch of strategic and tactical aviation, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic, and other aircraft from the country.
The doctrine also mentions that Russia may use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Belarus as a member of the Union State. Moreover, according to the doctrine, nuclear weapons may be used by Russia if a critical threat to the country's sovereignty arises.
Some media outlets noted that the updated nuclear doctrine was made public shortly after the appearance on November 17 in The New York Times, which reported that the U.S. had allowed Ukraine to strike Russian territory using ATACMS missiles.
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