The former Russian president and prime minister issued his bombastic warning on Feb. 18. He said Kyiv and some Western capitals – Berlin, London and Washington – would feel the might of the “entire strategic arsenal” of nuclear weapons Moscow has.
Medvedev’s warning came amid Kyiv’s intent to retake five territories – Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia – that were originally part of Ukraine. These five areas, originally included in Ukraine’s 1991 borders following the collapse of the Soviet Union, are now under Russia. In fact, Moscow has amended the Russian Constitution to include these formerly Ukrainian territories.
“Attempts to return Russia to the borders of 1991 will lead only to one thing – to a global war with Western countries using the entire strategic arsenal of our state,” he said. Medvedev also urged Ukraine’s backers to stand down “before it’s too late,” claiming that Russian nuclear weapons would blast “beautiful historical places” to bits. (Related: Former Russian President Medvedev warns of nuclear “apocalypse” if NATO attacks.)
The erstwhile Russian leader’s remarks also extended to a domestic audience, presumably to reiterate the importance of supporting the “special military operation” in Ukraine. If Moscow loses its newly acquired territories again, Medvedev warned of “the direct and irreversible collapse of present-day Russia” and “a violent civil war with the final disappearance of our country from the world map.”
“Tens of millions of victims. The death of our future. The collapse of everything in the world.”
Despite his threats, Medvedev said the next day that he believes Russia will see victory soon. He commented on Feb. 19 that Moscow’s military power was equal to any in the world and that Russia is a strong country because it knows “how to win.”
Medvedev notorious for bombastic threats of nuclear war
Medvedev served as prime minister under Russian President Vladimir Putin from 2012 until 2020. Before this, he served as Russian president from 2008 to 2012 – with Putin as his prime minister. Breitbart News pointed out that there is “absolutely no slight too small” for Medvedev to “necessitate a nuclear response.”
The outlet reported in March 2023 that the RSC deputy chair had issued a similar threat. Following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant for Putin, Medvedev warned that Moscow would bomb any country that attempts to serve the ICC warrant. “While many European nations are signatories of the founding treaties to the ICC, key parties to the [Russia-Ukraine war] – including Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. – do not fully recognize the [ICC],” Breitbart News said at the time.
“Let’s imagine … the incumbent head of a nuclear country arrives in, say, Germany and is arrested,” the Russian politician told reporters during a press event. “What does it mean? A declaration of war against Russia. In such a case, all our weapons will target the Bundestag [building], the [German] chancellor’s office] and so on.”
Before this, Medvedev also insinuated that Russia could use one of its hypersonic nuclear missiles against the ICC’s chambers in The Hague. He also rebuffed the “useless” international court as “just a miserable international organization,” and urged those working there to “carefully look into the sky.”
“Alas, gentlemen, everyone walks under God and rockets. It is quite possible to imagine the targeted use of a hypersonic launch from the North Sea from a Russian ship at the Hague courthouse.”
An unexploded bomb from the Second World War which forced thousands to evacuate their homes in Plymouth has been detonated at sea.Around 30 of the Armed Forces' most experienced bomb disposal experts led the "highly complex disposal operation" on Friday after the 500kg bomb was discovered on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. Police had been called to a property in St Michael Avenue in the Keyham area of […]
Post comments (0)