Donetsk militia commander says nukes are 'only option' to defeat NATO amid war in Ukraine

Commander of Russia's Donetsk militia, Alexander Khodakovsky, has said that Russia might have to use nuclear weapons to win war in Ukraine. “We don't have resources to defeat NATO bloc with conventional means. But we have nuclear weapons for that,” Khodakovsky said on state telivision, as per CNN. He furr claimed that Moscow is w fighting entire West and this is reason why  next escalation of  war can “only be one: nuclear.” 

It is t clear how seriously his statements should be taken. Use of nukes is certainly t an issue on which his views hold sway. Role of nuclear weapons is determined by nuclear doctrine a nation state has, which is formulated after careful deliberation.

It is t a ble that one threatens with when war is t going way one hoped. Russia's president Vlimir Putin recently said that risk of nukes is rising, whilst ding that Russia has t "gone m", specifically stating that Russia will t use nuclear weapons first. "Such a threat (nuclear threat) is growing, it would be wrong to hide it. We have t gone m, we are aware of what nuclear weapons are. We aren't about to run around world brandishing this weapon like a razor," Russian President Vlimir Putin said, as per a report from BBC. 

Russia's nuclear doctrine 

Russia's nuclear weapons are a key component of its national security strategy. country has one of world's largest nuclear arsenals, which it views as a deterrent against potential aggression from or countries. development of Russia's nuclear weapons began in aftermath of World War II, when Soviet Union began to develop its own atomic bombs. In 1949, Soviet Union successfully tested its first nuclear weapon, kwn as RDS-1, marking start of country's nuclear program.

In deces that followed, Russia continued to develop and expand its nuclear arsenal. By time Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Russia h become one of world's leing nuclear powers, with a large stockpile of nuclear weapons. Russia's nuclear doctrine is based on concept of deterrence. This means that country's nuclear weapons are intended to prevent or countries from attacking Russia or its allies. 

To achieve this deterrent effect, Russia has developed a number of different s of nuclear weapons, including strategic and tactical weapons, as well as various delivery systems, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines, and aircraft. One key aspect of Russia's nuclear doctrine is its emphasis on concept of "de-escalation." This means that Russia would only use its nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack on country or its allies. However, Russia has also stated that it would consider use of nuclear weapons in or situations, such as if country's very survival was at stake.