Russia threatens Britain with retaliatory strikes on military facilities
Tensions between Russia and the West increased after Russia issued threats to strike British military installations and announced battlefield exercises simulating the use of nuclear weapons.
The moves come amid rising tensions over the war in Ukraine and statements by Western officials about the possibility of escalating involvement in the conflict.
Following the summoning of the British ambassador to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow warned that Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory using weapons supplied by the United Kingdom could lead to retaliatory strikes against British military installations and equipment, whether in Ukraine or elsewhere.
These tensions escalated as Moscow celebrated Victory Day, the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said the nuclear drills were in response to provocative statements and threats from some Western officials.
Although Russia has traditionally conducted exercises for its strategic nuclear forces, this is the first time it has publicly announced exercises involving tactical nuclear weapons.
Tactical nuclear weapons include aerial bombs, short-range missile warheads, and artillery ammunition that can be used on the battlefield.
These weapons are different from strategic nuclear weapons aimed at wiping out entire cities.
Some NATO countries have expressed fears of escalating tensions between Russia and the West over the possibility of the conflict in Ukraine spilling over into a wider war between NATO and Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated that he didn’t rule out sending troops to Ukraine, while British Foreign Secretary David Cameron stressed that Ukrainian forces could use British weapons to strike targets inside Russia.
The Kremlin called the comments by Western officials provocative and exacerbating tensions.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also summoned the French and British ambassadors to Moscow, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the statements of Macron and other Western officials represent a new round of escalation.
He said, “This is unprecedented, and requires special attention and special measures”.
Amid these tensions, two Ukrainian drones targeted vehicles in Russia’s Belgorod region, killing 6 people and injuring 35 others.
The recent attacks have caused power outages in some areas of Ukraine as a result of Russia’s targeting of energy infrastructure.
Amid the ongoing escalation, some countries have warned that Russia’s nuclear drills are increasing tensions, and Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström called the drills “irresponsible and reckless”.
Some Ukrainian officials downplayed the Russian escalation, saying that “nuclear blackmail” is a normal practice on the part of the Kremlin.
The escalation of these events reinforces fears of a possible wider conflict that could involve more states, highlighting the need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and avoid escalation.
