Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to put its nuclear forces on “special alert” – the highest level of alert for Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces.
Speaking to top military officials, including Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, he said Western nations had taken “unfriendly actions” towards Russia and imposed “illegitimate sanctions”.
Russia’s leader had already issued a coded warning that he was willing to use nuclear weapons as he began his invasion of Ukraine.
US calls Putin’s nuclear move ‘totally unacceptable’
The US has responded to President Putin’s order putting Russia’s nuclear forces on a “special” state of alert.
The move makes it easier to launch weapons – but our security correspondent Gordon Corera said it was a way for Russia to send a warning to Nato, rather than signalling an intent to use them.
The US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called the move “unacceptable” in an interview with CBS News.
“It means that President Putin is continuing to escalate this war in a manner that is totally unacceptable and we have to continue to stem his actions in the strongest possible way,” she said.
