Putin dares not use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, adviser Zelensky claims

the west must ignore Vladimir Putin’s Nuclear ThreatUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

of The Kremlin insisted it would resort to nuclear war If Europe and the United States increase the supply of weapons and machinery to Ukraine.

Mikhaylo Podoljak, an adviser to President Zelensky, said: Times: “Putin is not ready to press the red button” because Russia understands the consequences of doing so.

It follows military officials’ announcement that about 180,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of the war in Ukraine, a much higher estimate than previously thought.

Mihailo Podoljak said Times: “The use of nuclear weapons, even tactical ones, will lead to the inevitable death of most of Russia’s political elite. They understand this very well.

Podoljak said he understands the consequences if Russia launches a nuclear strike. He said he understood that Moscow would face “immediate retaliation” because other nuclear powers had sent such “clear warnings”.

Vyacheslav Borodin, a political ally of Putin and head of the Russian parliament, said the West was at risk of a “horrible war” as the West pledged to send weapons, including tanks, to Ukraine. said there is.

Western countries announced last week that they would send Dozens of sophisticated tanks to Ukraineincluding pledges from the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.

“Foreign politicians making such decisions need to understand that this could lead to a global tragedy that will destroy their country,” Volodin said last week.

Former Russian Prime Minister and President Dmitry Medvedev (now deputy chairman of Russia’s National Security Council) also warned that Russia could use nuclear weapons if its forces were defeated in Ukraine.

Russia recently tested a hypersonic Zircon missile in the Atlantic earlier this month, testing its nuclear capabilities.

An adviser to Zelensky told The Times: “Russia’s political elite want to scare other countries, but at the same time they want to guarantee a luxurious life.

“I advise you not to pay too much attention to the comments of people like Volodin and Medvedev. Their aim is to sow panic in Europe.

This was after military commanders estimated that up to 180,000 Russian troops had been killed or wounded. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

quote from Norwegian military is much higher than previously thought.

Top U.S. General Mark Milley The toll was about 100,000 last November.unknown how many How many troops Ukraine has lost since it was invaded on February 24, 2022Both have a policy of not disclosing losses.

Vladimir Putin’s army is now making a desperate bid to seize territory. Over 300 Western tanks reach the battlefield in Ukraine.

Western officials said Russia was looking to replace lost troops with a partial mobilization of civilians, including hundreds of thousands of reservists and prisoners. They acknowledged that Russia was making “creeping progress” in eastern Ukraine, but argued that the Kremlin forces were not large enough to make a strategic breakthrough.

Putin’s partial mobilization has left Russia’s front line “semi-stable”, making progress again after months of setbacks and stalls.

“Russia has had some tactical successes, but this is a ‘sideshow on the sideshow,'” said one official.Russia has more mass [than Ukraine] However, reservists brought to the front lines are unlikely to have formed cohesive groups. Russia is trying to build momentum, but its forces have failed to accomplish the strategic missions set for them.

Officials predicted the “grinding battle” was likely to continue this year.

Regarding the influx of Western tanks, they said, “Russia is aware of the timescale.” Ukraine is in a defensive position at the moment because it is waiting for tanks.

Mostly German-made Leopard 2s after Berlin made a landmark decision to send tanks and lift export restrictions affecting NATO allies.

Other tanks include 14 British Challenger 2s and 31 American M1 Abrams.

The Ukrainian crew began training in the UK this week. Troops accompanied by British tanks are expected to return to the country in late March. They’re already seasoned tank drivers, but they’ll need to adapt to Challenger 2’s specific requirements.

In recent weeks, Russian troops have captured a town in the Donetsk region. Their objective is to secure the strategically important city of Bahmut.

The population before the invasion was 70,000. However, civilians fled the city as Russian troops approached.

Ukraine may be forced to withdraw from Bakhmut. This is a move that will be a major blow to the country’s morale.

A Western official said, “Bahmut is the totem of the public narrative, putting pressure on both sides. But a military judgment must be made.

“I’m not going to speculate about the outcome. Hitherto, Ukraine has been wise in choosing the timing of its withdrawal when redrawing defensive lines. There will be an exchange of territories and the conflict will not end soon.