Russian security official threatens to use nukes if attempts made to retake Crimea

MOSCOW (AA) – Attempts to retake Crimea will be seen by Russia as a “threat to the existence of the state”, deputy head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has said. He added that such a move would give Russia the right to use any kind of weapon, including its nuclear arsenal.

Responding to questions of users of Russian social network VK, Medvedev said, “Without the help of NATO, the Kyiv regime would not have existed for a week.

“If we talk about some serious things related to the attempt to retake Crimea, it is quite obvious that this is the basis for the use of all means of protection, including those provided for by the fundamentals of the doctrine of nuclear deterrence, when the use of any kind of weapons threatens the existence of the state itself.

“And an attempt to break off part of the state means an encroachment on the existence of the state itself. It is quite obvious that there are grounds for the use of any type of weapon. I hope our friends across the ocean understand this,” he said.

Medvedev said that it is not correct to say that the US army is the strongest and the Russian is second-strongest force in the world, because if they clash, there will be no winner — the collision will inevitably turn into a nuclear war, and both countries have capabilities to carry out a “guaranteed defeat.”

“I will say only one thing, which is already obvious. The Russian Federation is not at war with Ukraine, our country is at war with 3.6 million representatives of the NATO army. Yes, they are involved in a hybrid conflict, but they are still involved. And (Russia also fights) with a population of 800 million people, which supplies equipment, weapons and money to the Kyiv regime,” he added.