Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia can use nuclear weapons if the very existence of the state is threatened. This statement was made in response to discussions by the Ukrainian military about the possibility of launching long-range missiles at Russian nuclear launchers.

Medvedev recalled paragraph 19 of the Fundamentals of Russia's state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence, according to which Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons if there is a threat to the existence of the country.

“[Ukraine] risks running into the action of clause 19 of the Fundamentals of Russian State Policy in the field of nuclear deterrence. This is a direct and obvious reason for our use of nuclear weapons against such a state.”, said Dmitry Medvedev.

In his opinion, the plans of the Ukrainian military to strike nuclear strongholds of the Russian Federation could become a direct and obvious basis for such an action on the part of Russia.

Medvedev also noted that Western countries are actively supporting Kyiv, including by supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles. In his message, he also recalled that Russia used all types of weapons against Ukraine, with the exception of nuclear weapons.