The US government have splashed out $290m (£260m) on radiation sickness drugs as the threat of a cornered Putin unleashing nuclear weapons grows.
The war in Ukraine has gone from bad to worse for Russian forces with the latest blow, the partially destruction of the Kerch Bridge, coming just a day after President Putin's birthday.
As the conflict drags on, many fear Putin will unleash more deadly weaponry such as chemical weapons or tactical nuclear strikes.
The US' investment in preparing for nuclear war comes amid what President Biden has described as the highest nuclear risk since 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. But, the government said that the purchase of Nplate pills was nothing to do with it.
A spokesperson for the Human Services Department (HSS) in Washington, who announced the decision, told The Daily Telegraph: "This is part of our ongoing work for preparedness and radiological security. It has not been accelerated by the situation in Ukraine."
Nplate pills are used to treat acute radiation syndrome (ARS), one of the most dangerous threats caused by nuclear blasts.
Vladimir Putin indicated he is prepared to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia, and the tension has been ramped up by his annexation of four regions of Ukraine where heavy fighting is taking place.
The fear is that he could claim an attack on these areas in the east and south of Ukraine would be an assault on Russian territory and so pave the way to using nuclear weapons.
A convoy of BPM-97 armoured personnel carriers and other military vehicles have been seen heading through central Russia which have been posted on Telegram by pro-Russian channel Rybar.
The sophisticated machinery that includes mine-proof armour reportedly belongs to the Russian army’s 12th Main Directorate which runs central storage facilities for nuclear weapons.
