Disinfo: Russia does not threaten anyone with nuclear weapons

Summary

Russia does not threaten anyone with the use of nuclear weapons.

Western countries are actively using this rhetoric, trying to present Moscow as ready to strike with nuclear weapons.

Against the backdrop of the events in Ukraine, the United States and its dependent states are actively replicating nuclear rhetoric. They are trying to create the impression that our country will be attacking with weapons of mass destruction. Once again, it must be clarified that Russia does not threaten anyone with the use of nuclear weapons.

Disproof

Pro-Kremlin’s narrative denying its own nuclear threats and accusing the West of heating up a nuclear topic.

This is not the first time the Kremlin’s manipulation and disinformation machine has used a deep-seated and very reasonable fear of a nuclear disaster to advance its political and military goals in Ukraine.

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On February 27, 2022, Vladimir Putin ordered his military to put Russia’s nuclear deterrence forces on high alert. Before that, Putin had warned that "whoever tries to hinder us" in Ukraine would see consequences 'you have never seen in history'.

The current Russian military strategy reserves the option to use nuclear weapons first. Russia's nuclear doctrine allows for a nuclear strike after "aggression against the Russian Federation with conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened", if the state is at risk or possibly if Russia is losing a major war.

From the first day of the war, Russia has been voicing its right to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine at all levels, from high-ranking officials to propagandists.

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and now deputy chair of the Russian security council said Moscow’s nuclear doctrine does not require the enemy state to use such weapons first. He threatens a 'nuclear' move if NATO expands. In May, Medvedev warned about the nuclear war over Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. In September Medvedev raises the spectre of a nuclear strike and says NATO would not get involved.

In another notable example of warmongering and threats from Russia, EU-sanctioned Russian TV Host Dmitry Kiselyov lashed out at the UK, accusing it of pushing Ukraine to continue fighting against Russia and threatening the UK with nuclear annihilation.

Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the propaganda outlets RT and Sputnik, stated that "Vladimir Putin will launch an all-out nuclear war on the West rather than accept defeat in Ukraine". In September Simonyan twitted: "Judging by what is happening and still about to happen, this week marks either the eve of our imminent victory or the eve of nuclear war".

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov called for Russia to use low-yield nuclear weapons.

Talk about the use of tactical nuclear weapons intensified after the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories. Without providing evidence, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that top NATO officials had said that it’d be acceptable to carry out nuclear strikes on Russia. He threatened to use nuclear weapons adding that "This is not a bluff".

'See other similar cases in our database: Russia has never threatened anyone with nuclear weapons; The West is pushing Ukraine towards a nuclear catastrophe; UK is pushing Ukraine to fight Russia promising assistance with nuclear strike.

Read our articles The Dangerous Case of Nuclear Corners and Playing with nuclear fire.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 312
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 11/10/2022
  • Article language(s) Armenian, Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia
  • Keywords: Nuclear issues, War in Ukraine, Invasion of Ukraine, security threat
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Disinfo: The US and the EU don’t care about starving many millions of Latin Americans

The US and the EU don’t care about starving many millions of Latin Americans. The General Assembly of the Organisation of American States is ignoring the essential. Among their topics are the food and energy crisis, attributed to the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. A wrong focus that only contributes to worsen the situation, as the real reason are the West’s anti-Russian sanctions.

Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about sanctions in the context of the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. In this case, this narrative is also used to attack the Organisation of American States, a frequent target of pro-Kremlin criticism as this institution has been very critical of several countries allied of Moscow such as Venezuela or Nicaragua. Russia’s status as permanent observer at OAS was suspended in April 2022 as a result of Russia’s invasion.

The claim that sanctions are the cause of global food and energy crisis is an attempt to deflect Russia's responsibility in this situation. Large-scale wars are, by definition, bound to cause global supply shocks that trigger inflation and chain disruptions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has destabilised global food markets and is driving food prices up due to increased cost of production, transport and freight insurance. Russia has also destroyed substantial food stocks, production, as well as processing and transport capacities in Ukraine.

Disinfo: Nobel Peace Prize is used by the West as a media weapon against Russia

The Nobel Peace Prize is used by the West as a media weapon against Russia. Not only weapons and war strategies are used in conflicts, there are also media attacks. Under this prism, one can understand why the Nobel Peace Prize 2022 was awarded to three actors contrarian to Moscow. What should be an award to people and institutions fomenting peace and dialogue has turned into a recognition of characters that openly promote wars around the world, so the award could easily be named “Nobel War Prize” or “Nobel Conflict Prize”.

The Nobel Peace Prize is neither objective nor neutral, nor it is linked to international democracy. Its interests align with those of the US imperialism. Instead of human rights work, the award is rewarding a system of US interference that includes the funding of NGOs who oppose certain governments, such as those of Vladimir Putin and Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about Russia as the ultimate victim of international events and NGOs as vectors for foreign-promoted colour revolutions. In this case, these narratives are a reaction against the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian activists and non-governmental groups including Russian NGO Memorial, a long-term target of Kremlin repression. The same day of the award, Russian authorities seized the former offices of Memorial.

No evidence is provided to support any of the claims. Allegations that the Nobel Peace Prize is a tool for US imperialism are an attempt to deflect any criticism for Russia’s domestic repression and worsening situation of civil liberties. Russia was ranked in the position 124 out of 167 countries in the latest The Economist Democracy Index 2021 and is rated as Not Free by Freedom House.

Disinfo: Volodymyr Zelensky asks NATO to launch a nuclear war against Russia

Zelensky asks NATO for a preemptive nuclear strike against Russia. He is dreaming about nuclear WWIII.

Disproof

Recurring disinformation about the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, reversely accusing western countries of a nuclear aggression against Russia.

For several years now the Russian infosphere has seen nuclear threats being made against the west by figures like Dmitry Kiselyov or Vladimir Zhirinovsky are famous for this. Other Russian officials to make such statements are Dmitry Medvedev, Ramzan Kadyrov, or even Vladimir Putin who specified that “it was not a bluff”.