FURIOUS Vladimir Putin talks all about nukes, but could unleash deadly chemical weapons within weeks, a former NATO commander has warned.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon insisted that the Kremlin’s desperation to retake the strategic Kursk region could force Putin to exchange chemical agents on a devastating scale.
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Unverified footage has emerged showing fires in Ukraine since the Russian attack
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Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the green light to the new nuclear doctrine on TuesdayCredit: EPA
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The Russian intercontinental ballistic missile Sarmat fired at the Pleseck range
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The Sun’s political editor Harry Cole with Hamish de Bretton-Gordon on Never Mind The Ballots
Pointing to the region’s symbolic importance to Russia, the chemical weapons expert argued that losing control of Kursk would be a “dagger” in the heart of the Russian despot.
He told The Sun’s Never Mind The Ballots: “Putin is completely distraught.
“He could have already lost up to 700,000 soldiers.
“Now, with Ukraine fighting back using US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles, he knows his forces in Kursk are sitting ducks.”
Kiev launched its first ATACMS strikes this week, hitting a Russian military depot in Bryansk on the 1,000th day of the brutal war.
British Storm Shadow missiles struck again two days later, angering Moscow and prompting retaliation that saw the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time since the war began.
Putin also gave the green light to a new nuclear doctrine, setting new conditions under which the country would consider using its arsenal.
The former NATO commander dismissed the nuclear threats as “bluff and arrogance,” adding that NATO’s intelligence and advanced weapons systems make it nearly impossible for the Kremlin to launch a successful tactical nuclear strike.
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Explosion recorded in the country amid Russian retaliation
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Firefighters work at the site of a Russian missile attack in Dnipro, UkraineCredit: Reuters
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Emergency services at the scene – one of the Russian missiles hit a house in DnieperCredit: Reuters
But warning of an escalating chemical threat, he said: “The Russians are currently using chemical weapons on an industrial scale in the East, using a thing called chloropicrin, which was the first chemical weapon…
“If Putin replaced that chloropicrin with the Novichok he used in Salisbury, then thousands of people could be killed.”
Mr de Bretton-Gordon also stressed that the battle for Kursk is crucial, and Ukraine’s ability to hold the region could affect the outcome of the war.
He explained: “Whoever holds Kursk at Christmas time will be at the forefront of Trump’s expected negotiations and ceasefire at the end of January next year.”
He called on NATO to provide Ukraine with all possible resources during this critical period, adding: “I hope that these last four weeks have really been useful for Ukraine.
“And hopefully it’s better late than never.”
On Sunday, US President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to fire US missiles inside Russia.
The Kremlin said it marked the crossing of a red line – officially putting nuclear retaliation on the table.
Footage last night revealed the moment Ukraine allegedly fired Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia for the first time.
The unconfirmed video shows the Kursk resident pointing to the sky before loud bangs are heard in the background.
Meanwhile, other aerial footage purportedly showing the attack captured rockets exploding a site in Kursk with an underground control room, Ukrainian defense experts said.
Huge plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the site, before an orange fireball engulfed the building.
Reports suggest the attack was aimed at a location where North Korean generals may have been present along with senior Russian military leaders.
The Russian Defense Ministry was forced to admit on Thursday that at least two Storm Shadow missiles were fired by Ukraine.
Fragments of bunker busting rockets were found on Wednesday in the village of Marine in Kursk, it was learned.
According to reports, the Ukrainian aircraft launched up to 12 missiles.
British Storm Shadow missiles are a nightmare for enemies because they are able to evade anti-aircraft defenses.
The £800,000 weapon – which has already been fired inside Ukraine – uses GPS to pinpoint targets and can travel at speeds of 600mph.
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Residents of Marina, Kursk, found the remains of a Brit Storm Shadow missile on Wednesday
Categories: Optical Illusion
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