Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday revised Russia's nuclear doctrine, broadening the conditions under which a nuclear strike could be ordered, including responses to certain conventional attacks. Meanwhile, Moscow accused Ukraine of striking deep within Russian territory using U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles.
The decision to lower the nuclear threshold came shortly after reports that the Biden administration had authorized Ukraine to target Russian territory with U.S.-made weaponry. Moscow had repeatedly warned the West that enabling such strikes would escalate the conflict, potentially implicating NATO members directly.
The newly updated doctrine, detailed in a decree signed by Putin, introduces expanded scenarios for nuclear deployment. Russia now reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks that pose a critical threat to the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Russia or its ally Belarus. This marks a significant shift from the 2020 policy, which limited nuclear response to existential threats or nuclear aggression.
Alexander Graef, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy in Hamburg, noted that this change effectively lowers the bar for nuclear engagement. The revised doctrine also treats any attack by a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear-armed ally as a joint aggression, and any strike by a military alliance member as an act of war by the entire bloc.
On the same day, Russia's defense ministry reported that Ukraine targeted the Bryansk region with six missiles, of which five were intercepted. These developments coincide with the war reaching its 1,000th day, a phase Russian and Western analysts fear could become the most perilous.
The updated doctrine also expands the definition of what may signal a mass attack on Russia, incorporating threats from aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones. This move underscores growing tensions as Russia’s military advances at its fastest pace since the early days of the war, while Western nations debate the conflict’s potential resolution.
With Russia and the U.S. collectively holding 88% of the world’s nuclear warheads, Putin remains the sole authority over Russia’s arsenal. Safe-haven assets, including gold and government bonds, surged following the announcement of the updated doctrine.
Comparing the current crisis to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, Russian diplomats have warned that the West is misjudging Moscow’s resolve. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov described the situation as unprecedented, stating, “We are navigating uncharted military and political territory.”
The Kremlin maintains that the updated doctrine aims to reinforce nuclear deterrence by emphasizing the certainty of retaliation against any aggression. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed suggestions linking the timing of the announcement to Washington’s missile authorization for Ukraine, stating that the doctrine was published at an appropriate moment.