Kremlin on possibility of nuclear strike after drone attacks on Russia

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has said that Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory should not be connected to the possibility of nuclear strikes, especially following the recent change in Russia's nuclear doctrine.

Source: Kremlin-aligned news agency RIA Novosti; Russian Telegram channels, citing Peskov

Details: A journalist stated that "125 drones were shot down over Russia last weekend", marking one of the "largest attacks" on the country, and asked whether this would provide grounds for the use of nuclear weapons, especially in light of the change in Russia's nuclear doctrine.

Quote from Peskov: "Well, to be honest, there’s no need to overly refer to this document. This document is extremely important. Significant decisions have been made. They will be formalised accordingly, but the special military operation [as Russia refers to the war – ed.] is continuing its course, and there’s no need to look for connections every time."

Why this is important: Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has repeatedly announced various "red lines", violations of which are said to lead to a nuclear response. 

These "red lines" have at different times concerned supplies of Leopard tanks, Western missiles, F-16 fighter jets, and more. 

Ukraine has crossed these so-called "red lines" set by the Kremlin multiple times. However, even the advance of Ukrainian troops into Russian territory and the control of hundreds of Russian settlements by the Armed Forces of Ukraine has not prompted any fundamentally new response from Russia. 

Russian leader Vladimir Putin initially chose to pursue a strategy of ignoring what was happening, later attempting to downplay the significance of the Ukrainian army's capture of Russian territories. Russian authorities and state-controlled media have also opted to overlook Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian airfields and ammunition depots. After each new attack, they merely report that their air defence systems supposedly shot down dozens of drones and make no comment on the destruction or losses.

Background:

• On 25 September, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has expanded the conditions under which it can use nuclear weapons.
• Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said the change in Russia’s nuclear doctrine is a signal to "unfriendly countries".
• In response, the EU stated that Putin’s fresh threats to deploy nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states is further proof of his irresponsible behaviour, and that the EU will not change its position regarding its continuing support for Ukraine. 
• Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is sceptical of Putin's threats, which come amid discussions about allowing Ukraine to launch long-range missiles deep into Russia.

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