Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, President Vladimir Putin and other Kremlin voices have frequently threatened the West with its nuclear arsenal. On Day 1 of the war, Putin warned of immediate and unprecedented consequences for those impeding Russia. Over the course of the conflict, the West has provided Ukraine with advanced weaponry, some of which has been used against Russian targets. Despite threats and the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, Russia has not yet resorted to nuclear action.
Russia's nuclear doctrine, signed by Putin in 2020, outlines the circumstances under which the country may use its nuclear arsenal. It emphasizes deterrence and states that nuclear weapons are a last resort in response to aggression against Russia or its allies.
