Russian president said order taken in response to ‘aggressive statements’ by Nato over Ukraine
The Russian leader cited aggressive statements by NATO leaders and severe economic sanctions against Moscow.
Vladimir Putin has ordered that Russia’s nuclear deterrence forces are put on high alert.
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Mr Putin said aggressive statements by NATO leaders and economic sanctions against Moscow were behind the decision.
Speaking on state television on Sunday, he said: “As you can see, not only do Western countries take unfriendly measures against our country in the economic dimension – illegitimate sanctions that everyone knows about.
“But also the highest-ranking officials of leading NATO countries are allowing themselves to make aggressive statements in relation to our country.
“For this reason I order the minister of defence and the chief of general staff to put deterrent forces on special combat duty.”
The move will heighten fears across the West that Russian forces could use nuclear weapons in the conflict with Ukraine.