Russian nuclear tests are a PR blackmail with no impact on the front - Zelenskyy's team
Photo: Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russia's “nuclear drills” will not affect the situation at the front. Russia is using all the elements of classic PR blackmail, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of Ukraine's President Office, told RBC-Ukraine.
This is Russia's fifth nuclear test since the full-scale invasion. And, they all were “successful”.
“Especially when they tested Sarmat or Yars. This is a standard Russian practice. They are constantly conducting nuclear exercises. Moreover, they emphasized - the one named Belousov, who replaced Shoigu - he said that 'we will train a nuclear, massive nuclear strike in response to a nuclear attack on Russian territory',” Podolyak said.
The official recalled that Russia claims to be preparing for a nuclear attack on its territory. He wonders who exactly was going to attack Russia with nuclear weapons.
“I just want to understand the logic of these slightly crazy people. Who was going to attack them? What do nuclear weapons have to do with it? And what does this have to do with your, say, training of your strategic nuclear forces? Will Ukraine react to this? No. Will the democratic coalition react to this? No... Will it affect what is happening on the front line? No,” he said.
He believes that Ukraine's partners need to stop believing in Russia's infantilism and respond firmly to nuclear threats.
“Russia is using all the elements of classic PR blackmail. All elements. But this is not the main thing. The main thing is a little different. If only there were tough reactions to nuclear weapons, to Russia's behavior, to updating international law as such, and to updating the rules of warfare. The main thing is that European companies and European countries should not earn the amount of money they are earning from Russia,” Podolyak says.
In his opinion, other countries would be much tougher on blackmail from Russia the other way round.
Putin's new nuclear threats
Russian president Vladimir Putin proposed to expand the list of conditions for using nuclear weapons. In the updated text of the nuclear doctrine, aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, is proposed to be considered a joint attack on Russia.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Putin's nuclear threats “irresponsible.”
Read more about Putin's nuclear threats and how Ukraine is reacting in the RBC-Ukraine article.
