In a recent social media post, Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current National Security Council deputy chairman, warned that if Ukraine's ongoing counteroffensive against Moscow's invasion were to capture Russian territory, there would be no alternative to using strategic nuclear weapons. Medvedev stated that if the Ukrainian offensive succeeded in taking away a part of Russian land, they would have to use nuclear weapons as directed by the president's decree.
Medvedev referred to the followers of Stepan Bandera, a nationalist leader from the 1930s and 1940s, as the driving force behind the Ukrainian offensive. He emphasized the need for enemies to respect and acknowledge the efforts of Russian warriors who are preventing a global nuclear conflict.
This is not the first time Medvedev has used Russia's nuclear arsenal as a threat against Ukraine and its Western supporters. He previously warned that Yevgeny Prigozhin's failed coup could lead to a nuclear war. Additionally, Medvedev suggested that the war in Ukraine could be swiftly resolved by emulating what the United States did in 1945 when they deployed nuclear weapons and bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
It is important to note that Medvedev's statements reflect his own perspective and do not necessarily represent the official stance of the Russian government. However, his repeated references to the potential use of nuclear weapons in the context of the conflict with Ukraine raise concerns about the escalation of tensions in the region.