Putin Threatens Devastating Nuclear Retaliation
Ukraine dealt a significant blow to Russia’s war capabilities by reportedly destroying a substantial portion of its ammunition reserves in one night using drones.
Ukrainian forces have recently intensified their drone attacks on key Russian logistics hubs. On Saturday, they targeted ammunition depots in Tikhoretsk, Krasnodar Krai, and Toropets, Tver, which are deep within Russian-held territory. The Ukrainian military reported that 2,000 tons of munitions were destroyed in Tikhoretsk alone, while Estonian intelligence suggested that the Toropets strike obliterated three months’ worth of Russian supplies—approximately 30,000 tons of ammunition, or 750,000 artillery shells.
These strikes demonstrate Ukraine’s increasing capabilities to disrupt Russia’s supply lines, even without using Western-supplied long-range missiles such as the Storm Shadow and ATACMS. Ukrainian officials have emphasized that such attacks severely weaken Russia’s ability to sustain its frontline forces, with the full impact likely to become evident in the coming weeks.
BREAKING:
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) September 25, 2024
🇷🇺 Vladimir Putin:
"We will use NUCLEAR weapons if a mass enemy missile or UAV is launched towards Russia, or when these weapons cross into Russian territory" pic.twitter.com/oDJz1zTTzU
Russia’s response to these developments has taken a nuclear-tinged tone. Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s deputy head of the National Security Council, stated on Telegram that any large-scale attack on Russian territory, including missile or drone strikes, could prompt the use of nuclear weapons. He also emphasized that Russia views Ukraine’s Western-backed military operations as aggression supported by nuclear-armed nations, which could escalate tensions with NATO.
Despite these nuclear warnings, some in the West remain unfazed, with Russian officials admitting that their threats of a nuclear strike have been repeated so often that they have lost much of their deterrent effect.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is committed to scaling up its drone production. Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov announced that the country is on track to meet its ambitious goal of producing several million drones. This will allow Ukraine to continue its strategy of using precision drone attacks against Russian military assets, even as Russia claims to be increasing its drone production.
NATO's @jensstoltenberg calls for crossing Putin's nuclear red line & authorizing missile strikes inside Russia: "Ukraine should have the right to strike legitimate military targets inside Russia" pic.twitter.com/r4eMlMwSVv
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 27, 2024
On the international front, the European Union has proposed a €35 billion loan to help Ukraine expand its defense capabilities, including the production of drones and other military equipment. This is part of a larger €45 billion aid package pledged by the G7 nations, which aims to boost Ukraine’s defense industry and overall war efforts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed concerns that Russia may target Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure, potentially disrupting power supplies across the country. He suggested that Russia has been using Chinese satellite imagery to gather intelligence on Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, heightening fears of future attacks.
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