If the West allows Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike Russian territory, possible scenarios for Vladimir Putin’s response could include strikes on British military facilities or a demonstration of nuclear power. In particular, Russia can detonate tactical nuclear weapons in the east of the country. It would be the first such test since 1990 and could signal the beginning of a dangerous new era.
As reported Reuters, thus Moscow is trying to advance its narrative by demonstrating readiness to use nuclear weapons.
According to Gerhard Mangott, a security expert from the University of Innsbruck, if restrictions on the use of Western missiles are lifted, the greatest burden of military action will fall on Kyiv. He believes that Russia’s response will be inevitable if strikes deep into the Russian Federation are allowed.
Another expert, Ulrich Kuehn of the Institute for Peace and Security Policy Studies in Hamburg, predicts that Russia may increase the number of attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.
Mangott also notes that allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons, including satellite imagery and military advisers, is perceived by Russia as a threat to its vital interests. He emphasizes that any such action will necessarily provoke a reaction from Moscow.
While Mangott does not expect a direct Russian attack on NATO territory, he does not rule out a major demonstration of nuclear capabilities. In his opinion, Russia has already made the necessary preparations for a nuclear test that could be conducted in the east of the country to show the seriousness of its intentions.
Expert Kuehn adds that a nuclear explosion, after a long hiatus since 1990, would mark the beginning of a new, much more dangerous era.
