Russia sends new nuclear war warning and names ‘priority target’ | World | News

Russia has identified a missile base in Poland as a potential target in an escalation of “nuclear danger”.

Moscow described the US missile base in the town of Redzikowo as a “provocative step” in “a series of deeply destabilising actions” by Washington.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia‘s foreign ministry, said: “This is another frankly provocative step in a series of deeply destabilising actions by the Americans and their allies in the North Atlantic Alliance in the strategic sphere.

“This leads to undermining strategic stability, increasing strategic risks and, as a result, to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger.”

The US base opened on November 13 as part of a NATO air defence programme in response to Russian president Vladimir Putin‘s full scale invasion of Ukraine.

Zakharova’s comments came on the same day Putin said Russia had fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine.

It was in response to Kyiv’s use this week of American and British missiles capable of striking deeper inside his country.

In a televised address, Putin warned US air defence systems would be powerless to stop the new missile, which he said flies at 10 times the speed of sound.

He also said the Oreshnik – Russian for hazelnut tree – could be used to attack any Ukrainian ally whose missiles are used to attack Russia.

Putin added: “We believe we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities.”

US President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the green light earlier this month to use US ATACMS missiles to strike at limited targets inside Russia.

Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said: “This was a new type of lethal capability that was deployed on the battlefield, so that was certainly of concern.”

She added that the missile could carry either conventional or nuclear warheads and Washington was alerted ahead of the launch via nuclear risk reduction channels.

Putin said the Oreshnik fired on Thursday struck a missile factory in Dnipro, adding Moscow would issue advance warnings if it launches more strikes with the Oreshnik against Ukraine to allow civilians to evacuate to safety.

Russia‘s leader signed a new doctrine this week allowing a potential nuclear response even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation which is supported by a nuclear power.

The doctrine is formulated broadly to avoid a firm commitment to use nuclear weapons. Western countries said Russia has used irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and behaviour throughout the war to intimidate Ukraine and other nations.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Russia’s formal lowering of the threshold for nuclear weapons use did not prompt any changes in US doctrine.