Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his defence chiefs to put thecountry’s nuclear “deterrence forces” on high alert Sunday and accused theWest of taking “unfriendly” steps against his country.
International tensions are already soaring over Russia’s invasion ofUkraine, and Putin’s order will cause further alarm.
Moscow has the world’s second-largest arsenal of nuclear weapons and a hugecache of ballistic missiles which form the backbone of the country’sdeterrence forces.
“I order the defence minister and the chief of the general staff of theRussian armed forces to put the deterrence forces of the Russian army intoa special mode of combat service,” Putin said.
“You see that Western countries are not only unfriendly to our country inthe economic sphere — I mean illegitimate sanctions,” he added, in atelevised address.
“Senior officials of leading NATO countries also allow aggressivestatements against our country.”
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Defence Minister Shoigu replied: “Affirmative.”
The Russian president on Thursday ordered the invasion of Ukraine, sendingshockwaves around the world.
Russian ground forces have pressed into Ukraine from the north, east andsouth but have encountered fierce resistance from Ukrainian troops, theintensity of which has likely surprised Moscow, according to Westernsources.
Ukrainian authorities describe some Russian troops as demoralised andexhausted, claiming that dozens have surrendered. APP/AFP
