Russian President Vladimir Putin orders nuclear defense forces to be on high alert

On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his defense chiefs to put the country’s nuclear “deterrence forces” on high alert and accused the West of hostile actions against Russia.

As tensions rise over Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, Putin’s decision is expected to raise further tensions, according to reports from NDTV.

Moscow’s nuclear arsenal is the second largest in the world, and the country possesses extensive ballistic missile stocks that provide the country’s deterrent.

“I order the defense minister and the chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces to put the deterrence forces of the Russian army into a special mode of combat service,” Putin said during a televised address to the nation.

“You see that Western countries are not only unfriendly to our country in the economic sphere — I mean illegitimate sanctions,” he added.

“Senior officials of leading NATO countries also allow aggressive statements against our country.”

Despite Russian ground forces pushing into Ukraine from the north, east, and south, Kiev has fought back fiercely, causing Moscow to be surprised by the intensity of the resistance, reports international media.