Recently, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, once again threatened to use nuclear weapons. This time, Putin says Russia would consider an attack from a non-nuclear state that was backed by a nuclear-armed one to be a “joint attack.”
However, Russia’s threats are all bluffs. The Kremlin has backed down from every threat it made against the West. The Kremlin has made threats on various issues, such as the European Sky Shield, Finland’s membership in NATO, Ukraine’s attempts to attack temporarily occupied Crimea, and the provision of tanks, HIMARS, and F-16s to Ukraine, among others. Russia has threatened nuclear weapons and ultimately backed down.
Over the past 25 years, Russia has threatened the West to use nuclear weapons dozens of times. Here are some examples:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/dec/10/russia.chechnya 10 Dec 99. Yeltsin gives US nuclear warning
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/apr/11/usa.topstories3 11 Apr 07. Russia threatening new cold war over missile defence
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/13/russia.putin 13 Feb 08. Putin issues nuclear threat to Ukraine over plan to host US shield
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/aug/15/russia.poland.nuclear.missiles.threat 15 Aug 08. Russian general Nogovitsyn threatens Poland with nuclear attack
https://www.reuters.com/article/world/russia-reserves-pre-emptive-nuclear-strike-right-idUSTRE59C4XK/ 14 Oct 09. Russia reserves pre-emptive nuclear strike right
https://www.reuters.com/article/world/russias-putin-warns-west-over-missile-defense-report-idUSTRE6B01A6/ 1 Dec 10. Putin warns West over missile defense
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-15857431 23 Nov 11. Russia in Europe missile threat
https://www.reuters.com/article/world/nato-russia-talk-of-pre-emptive-strike-unjustified-idUSBRE8431ID/ 4 May 12. NATO – Russia talk of pre-emptive strike unjustified
https://www.reuters.com/article/business/russia-can-turn-us-to-radioactive-ash-kremlin-backed-journalist-idUSL6N0MD0P9/ 17 Mar 14. Russia can turn US to radioactive ash
https://thediplomat.com/2014/07/russia-threatens-nuclear-strikes-over-crimea/ 11 Jul 14. Russia Threatens Nuclear Strikes Over Crimea
https://newsweek.com/russia-has-threatened-nuclear-attack-says-ukraine-defence-minister-267842 01 Sep 14. Russia Has Threatened Nuclear Attack, Says Ukraine Defence Minister
https://www.reuters.com/article/world/russia-threatens-to-aim-nuclear-missiles-at-denmark-ships-if-it-joins-nato-shiel-idUSKBN0MI0ML/ 22 Mar 15. Russia threatens to aim nuclear missiles at Denmark ships if it joins NATO shield
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/28/nato-chief-says-russian-nuclear-threats-are-deeply-troubling-and-dangerous 28 May 15. Nato chief says Russian nuclear threats are ‘deeply troubling and dangerous’
https://www.reuters.com/article/world/russia-will-target-european-countries-if-they-host-us-nuclear-missiles-putin-idUSKCN1MY2GG/ 24 Oct 18. Russia will target European countries if they host U.S. nuclear missiles – Putin
https://www.reuters.com/article/world/putin-to-us-im-ready-for-another-cuban-missile-style-crisis-if-you-want-one-idUSKCN1QA1A3/ 21 Feb 19. Putin to U.S.: I’m ready for another Cuban Missile-style crisis if you want one
https://www.reuters.com/article/world/after-putins-warning-russian-tv-lists-nuclear-targets-in-us-idUSKCN1QE1DM/ 26 Feb 19. After Putin’s warning, Russian TV lists nuclear targets in U.S.
https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-says-lack-nato-security-guarantees-would-lead-confrontation-ria-2021-12-13/ 13 Dec 21. Russia says it may be forced to deploy mid-range nuclear missiles in Europe
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-says-putins-ominous-threat-those-who-hinder-him-marks-critical-moment-2022-02-24/ 24 Feb 22. EU says Putin’s ominous threat to those who hinder him marks ‘critical moment’
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-nuclear-alert-order-part-pattern-made-up-threats-us-says-2022-02-27/ 27 Feb 22. Putin nuclear alert order part of pattern of made-up threats, U.S. says
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/war-with-ukraine-putin-puts-nuclear-deterrence-forces-alert-2022-02-27/ 27 Feb 22. Putin puts nuclear deterrent on alert; West squeezes Russian economy
https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/you-ll-face-consequences-greater-than-any-in-history-putin-warns-west-122022400807_1.html 24 Feb 22. You’ll face consequences greater than any in history: Putin warns West
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/02/28/why-do-we-need-a-world-if-russia-is-not-in-it-state-tv-presenter-opens-show-with-ominous-address-a76653/pdf 28 Feb 22. “Why Do We Need a World if Russia Is Not In It?”: State TV Presenter Opens Show With Ominous Address
https://www.reuters.com/world/kremlin-spokesman-russia-would-use-nuclear-weapons-only-case-threat-existence-2022-03-28/ 28 Mar 22. Kremlin spokesman: Russia would use nuclear weapons only in case of ‘threat to existence of state’
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-warns-baltic-nuclear-deployment-if-nato-admits-sweden-finland-2022-04-14/ 14 Apr 22. Russia warns of nuclear, hypersonic deployment if Sweden and Finland join NATO
https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-says-western-weapons-ukraine-legitimate-targets-russian-military-2022-04-25/ 25 Apr 22. Russia’s Lavrov: Do not underestimate threat of nuclear war
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-risks-nuclear-war-must-be-kept-minimum-tass-2022-04-30/ 30 Apr 22. Russia says risks of nuclear war must be kept to minimum, TASS reports
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-will-not-use-nuclear-weapons-ukraine-foreign-ministry-2022-05-06/ 06 May 22. Russian will not use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, foreign ministry says
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/possible-nuclear-strike-russia-says-its-all-our-military-doctrine-2022-05-10/ 10 May 22. On possible nuclear strike, Russia says: it’s all in our military doctrine
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-says-finland-joining-nato-is-definitely-threat-russia-2022-05-12/ 12 May 22. Russia says Finnish entry to NATO poses threat to which it will respond
https://www.reuters.com/world/russias-medvedev-warns-united-states-messing-with-nuclear-power-is-folly-2022-07-06/ 06 Jul 22. Russia’s Medvedev warns United States: messing with a nuclear power is folly
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/medvedev-wests-refusal-recognise-crimea-russian-is-threat-2022-07-17/ 17 Jul 22. Russia’s Medvedev: Attack on Crimea will ignite ‘Judgement Day’ response
https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-there-can-be-no-winners-nuclear-war-it-should-never-be-started-2022-08-01/ 01 Aug 22. Putin says no one can win a nuclear war
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/accidents-can-happen-european-nuclear-plants-too-russian-ex-president-says-2022-08-12/ 12 Aug 22. ‘Accidents can happen at European nuclear plants too,’ Russian ex-president says
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-nuclear-weapons-use-possible-only-emergency-circumstances-2022-08-18/ 18 Aug 22. Russia says nuclear weapons use possible only in ’emergency circumstances’
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-signs-decree-mobilisation-says-west-wants-destroy-russia-2022-09-21/ 21 Sep 22. Putin escalates Ukraine war, issues nuclear threat to West
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-strategic-nuclear-weapons-can-be-used-defend-new-regions-2022-09-22/ 22 Sep 22. Russia’s Medvedev: new regions can be defended with strategic nuclear weapons
https://www.reuters.com/world/moscow-not-threatening-anyone-with-nuclear-weapons-russias-ryabkov-2022-09-23/ 23 Sep 22. Moscow “not threatening anyone” with nuclear weapons – Russia’s Rybakov
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-warns-west-that-nuclear-threat-is-not-bluff-2022-09-27/ 27 Sep 22. Medvedev raises spectre of Russian nuclear strike on Ukraine
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-its-troops-left-lyman-avoid-encirclement-2022-10-01/ 01 Oct 22. Kadyrov says Russia should use low-yield nuclear weapon
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/admission-ukraine-nato-can-lead-third-world-war-russian-official-2022-10-13/ 13 Oct 22. Russian official warns of World War Three if Ukraine joins NATO
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-annexed-ukrainian-lands-protected-by-russian-nuclear-weapons-2022-10-18/ 18 Oct 22. Russia says seized Ukrainian lands are under its nuclear protection
https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-says-it-is-committed-preventing-nuclear-clash-2022-11-02/ 02 Nov 22. Russia: West must stop ‘encouraging provocations’ to avoid nuclear disaster
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-is-not-considering-using-nuclear-weapons-kremlin-says-2022-11-17/ 17 Nov 22. Russia is not considering using nuclear weapons – Kremlin says
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-it-will-focus-building-nuclear-arms-infrastructure-2023-2022-11-30/ 30 Nov 22. Russia says it will focus on building nuclear arms infrastructure in 2023
https://www.reuters.com/article/technology/russias-lavrov-nato-policy-risks-direct-clash-between-nuclear-powers-idUSS8N30X0M5/ 05 Dec 22. Russia’s Lavrov: NATO policy risks ‘direct clash’ between nuclear powers
https://tass.com/politics/1548711 09 Dec 22. Russia may borrow US idea of disarming strike — Putin
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/only-russias-nuclear-arms-preventing-west-declaring-war-putin-ally-2022-12-25/ 25 Dec 22. Only Russia’s nuclear arms preventing West from declaring war – Putin ally
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-ally-medvedev-warns-nuclear-war-if-russia-defeated-ukraine-2023-01-19/ 19 Jan 23. Putin ally warns NATO of nuclear war if Russia is defeated in Ukraine
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-says-more-us-weapons-supplies-mean-all-ukraine-will-burn-2023-02-04/ 04 Feb 23. Russia’s Medvedev says more U.S. weapons supplies mean ‘all of Ukraine will burn’
https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-meet-eastern-nato-allies-wake-putins-nuclear-warning-2023-02-22/ 22 Feb 23. Biden reassures eastern NATO allies on security after Putin’s nuclear warning
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/biden-putin-display-their-alliances-with-ukraine-war-backdrop-2023-02-22/ 22 Feb 23. Ukraine defends front, Putin talks up nuclear arsenal on war anniversary eve
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-says-arms-supplies-kyiv-threaten-global-nuclear-catastrophe-2023-02-27/ 27 Feb 23. Russia’s Medvedev says arms supplies to Kyiv threaten global nuclear catastrophe
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-risk-nuclear-conflict-highest-level-decades-2023-03-22/ 22 Mar 23. Russia says risk of nuclear conflict at highest level in decades
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-says-west-wont-leave-russia-china-alone-tass-2023-03-23/ 23 Mar 23. Any attempt to arrest Putin would be declaration of war on Russia, ally says
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-says-moscow-has-deal-with-belarus-station-nuclear-weapons-there-tass-2023-03-25/ 25 Mar 23. Putin says Moscow to place nuclear weapons in Belarus, US reacts cautiously
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-ally-says-russia-has-weapons-destroy-us-if-its-existence-is-threatened-2023-03-27/ 27 Mar 23. Putin ally says Russia has weapons to destroy US if its existence is threatened
https://tass.com/politics/1599707 05 Apr 23. Russia, US are in hot conflict phase — senior diplomat
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-warns-again-that-risks-nuclear-confrontation-with-us-growing-tass-2023-04-25/ 25 Apr 23. Russia warns again that risks of nuclear confrontation with US growing – TASS
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-ally-we-are-probably-verge-new-world-war-2023-04-25/ 25 Apr 23. Putin ally: We are probably on verge of a new world war
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/05/04/putin-allies-split-on-using-tactical-nuclear-weapons-in-ukraine-a81038 04 May 23. Putin Allies Split Over Using Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-western-arms-ukraine-make-nuclear-apocalypse-more-likely-2023-05-23/ 23 May 23. Western arms for Ukraine make ‘nuclear apocalypse’ more likely: Russia’s Medvedev
https://theprint.in/world/russias-medvedev-warns-west-is-underestimating-risks-of-nuclear-escalation-over-ukraine/1595591/ 26 May 23. Russia’s Medvedev warns West is underestimating risks of nuclear escalation over Ukraine
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/vladimir-putin-delivers-keynote-address-st-petersburg-forum-2023-06-16/ 16 Jun 23. Vladimir Putin delivers keynote address at St Petersburg forum
https://tass.com/defense/1636187 21 Jun 23. US, NATO’s aggressive policies may result in clash between nuclear powers
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-says-standoff-with-west-last-decades-ukraine-conflict-permanent-2023-07-03/ 03 Jul 23. Russia’s Medvedev says standoff with West to last decades, Ukraine conflict ‘permanent’
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/07/13/7411092/ 13 Jul 23. Russia to consider F-16s transfer to Ukraine as nuclear threat from West – Lavrov
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-wed-have-use-nuclear-weapon-if-ukrainian-offensive-was-success-2023-07-30/ 30 Jul 23. Russia’s Medvedev: We’d have to use a nuclear weapon if Ukrainian offensive was a success
https://tass.com/politics/1685425 05 Oct 23. Russia’s retaliatory nuclear strike to leave enemy with no chances of survival — Putin
https://tass.com/politics/1694261 20 Oct 23. American-led world sliding headfirst into deepest abyss, Medvedev says
https://tass.com/russia/1698775 30 Oct 23. Western policy towards Russia threatens military clash between nuclear powers — Shoigu
https://www.newsweek.com/russian-official-issues-nuclear-weapons-warning-after-historic-achievement-1841145 06 Nov 23. Russian Official Issues Nuclear Weapons Warning After Historic Achievement
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-installs-one-more-hypersonic-nuclear-missile-ifax-2023-11-16/ 16 Nov 23. Russia loads missile with nuclear-capable glide vehicle into launch silo
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-warns-nuclear-response-if-ukraine-hits-missile-launch-sites-2024-01-11/ 11 Jan 24. Russia’s Medvedev warns of nuclear response if Ukraine hits missile launch sites
https://tass.com/politics/1733315 17 Jan 24. Russia-US relations ‘teetering on brink of abyss,’ ambassador to US says
https://kyivindependent.com/russias-medvedev-threatens-to-nuke-us-germany-uk-ukraine-if-russia-loses-occupied-territories/ 18 Feb 24. Russia’s Medvedev threatens to nuke US, UK, Germany, Ukraine if Russia loses occupied territories
https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/russia-nuclear-weapons-putin-leaked-military-files-drbzr3snk 28 Feb 24. Russia prepared for nuclear attack on China, leaked papers reveal
https://www.politico.eu/article/vladimir-putin-new-speech-ukraine-war-transnistria-nato/ 29 Feb 24. Putin threatens NATO with nuclear strike if it sends troops to Ukraine
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-says-russia-ready-nuclear-war-not-everything-rushing-it-2024-03-13/ 13 Mar 24. Putin warns the West: Russia is ready for nuclear war
https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-may-have-just-crossed-putins-nuclear-red-line-1891250 17 Apr 24. Ukraine May Have Just Crossed Putin’s Nuclear Red Line
https://news.am/eng/news/821693.html 06 May 24. Medvedev warns of nuclear attacks on European capitals in case of sending troops to Ukraine
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-09/putin-renews-nuclear-threats-against-west-in-victory-day-speech 09 May 24. Putin Renews Nuclear Threats Against West at Military Parade
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13403981/Putin-hires-hardline-professor-suggested-nuking-Europe-test-NATOs-resolve-Kremlin-role-deterring-West.html 10 May 24. Putin hires hardline professor who suggested nuking Europe to ‘test NATO’s resolve’ for Kremlin role ‘deterring the West’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13403565/belarus-dictator-lukashenko-admits-bonkers-threatens-nukes.html 10 May 24. Belarus dictator Lukashenko admits he is ‘bonkers’ and has no ‘red lines’ as he threatens the West with nukes and warns ‘we are closer than ever to nuclear catastrophe’
https://www.newsweek.com/putin-ally-dmitry-medvedev-threatens-nato-countries-special-ammunition-1899646 12 May 24. Putin Ally Threatens NATO Countries With ‘Special Ammunition’
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/putin-threatens-weapons-attack-west-ukraine-strikes-inside-russia-rcna155795 06 Jun 24. Putin warns he could provide weapons to attack the West and issues new nuclear threat
https://kyivindependent.com/russia-considering-changes-to-nuclear-doctrine-putin-claims/ 20 Jun 24. Russia considering changes to nuclear doctrine, Putin claims
https://united24media.com/latest-news/putin-threatens-nuclear-response-if-west-bolsters-ukraine-support-844 21 Jun 24. Putin Threatens Nuclear Response if West Bolsters Ukraine Support
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yjej0rvw0o 26 Sep 24. Putin proposes new rules for using nuclear weapons
https://srknation.in/index.php/2024/09/27/irresponsible-poorly-timed-eu-condemns-putin-over-nuclear-threats-to-western-nations/ 27 Sep 24. ‘Irresponsible, Poorly-Timed’: EU Condemns Putin Over Nuclear Threats To Western Nations
