Russian defector makes chilling claim about Putin’s nuclear plan on invasion day
A Russian military base housing nuclear warheads was placed on maximum alert on the day Russia invaded Ukraine.
A former Russian army officer revealed in an interview with the BBC that the base conducted drills prior to the February 2022 invasion, but on the day of the attack, the missiles were loaded and combat-ready.
Anton, whose real name has been changed, told the BBC: "We were ready to launch the forces into the sea and air and, in theory, carry out a nuclear strike."
According to the BBC, Anton fled Russia with the help of a group of deserters refusing to fight under Vladimir Putin’s orders.
While Moscow has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear warheads during the nearly three-year conflict, Anton claims this was a real possibility from day one.
The ex-officer dismissed claims by some experts that Russia's missiles are outdated, emphasizing the country’s extensive nuclear arsenal.
Last week, Russia reportedly deployed an Oreshnik missile for the first time—a medium-range intercontinental ballistic missile that struck the city of Dnipro.
(QG - BBC / Picture: © Pixabay)