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War in Ukraine

A Timeline of Russia’s Nuclear Threats Against the West

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A Timeline of Russia’s Nuclear Threats Against the West

While Russia frequently accuses the West of escalation, we look at all the times Russia has made nuclear threats against the West.

Russia's Putin recently threatened a nuclear response if Western support for Ukraine increases, but it's important to note that Russia's leadership has issued various nuclear threats almost monthly since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began two years ago.

A Timeline of Russia’s Nuclear Threats Against the West. (Source: UNITED24 Media)
A Timeline of Russia’s Nuclear Threats Against the West. (Source: UNITED24 Media)

21.06.2024

Putin Threatens Nuclear Response if West Bolsters Ukraine Support

20.06.2024

Russia considering changes to nuclear doctrine, Putin claims

06.06.2024

Putin warns he could provide weapons to attack the West and issues new nuclear threat

12.05.2024

Putin Ally Threatens NATO Countries With ’Special Ammunition’

10.05.2024

Belarus dictator Lukashenko admits he is ’bonkers’ and has no ’red lines’ as he threatens the West with nukes and warns ’we are closer than ever to nuclear catastrophe’

10.05.2024

Putin hires hardline professor who suggested nuking Europe to ’test NATO’s resolve’ for Kremlin role ’deterring the West’

09.05.2024

Putin Renews Nuclear Threats Against West at Military Parade

06.05.2024

Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with Western officials

06.05.2024

Medvedev warns of nuclear attacks on European capitals in case of sending troops to Ukraine

17.04.2024

Ukraine May Have Just Crossed Putin’s Nuclear Red Line

14.03.2024

Putin warns the West: Russia is ready for nuclear war

29.02.2024

Putin threatens NATO with nuclear strike if it sends troops to Ukraine

28.02.2024

Russia prepared for nuclear attack on China, leaked papers reveal

18.02.2024

Russia’s Medvedev threatens to nuke US, UK, Germany, Ukraine

17.01.2024

Russia-US relations 'teetering on brink of abyss,' ambassador to US says

11.01.2024

Medvedev warns of nuclear response if Ukraine hits missile launch sites

16.11.2023

Russia loads missile with nuclear-capable glide vehicle into launch silo

06.11.2023

Russian Official Issues Nuclear Weapons Warning After Historic Achievement

30.10.2023

Western policy towards Russia threatens military clash between nuclear powers — Shoigu

20.10.2023

American-led world sliding headfirst into deepest abyss, Medvedev says

05.10.2023

Russia’s retaliatory nuclear strike to leave enemy with no chances of survival — Putin

30.07.2023

Russia’s Medvedev: We’d have to use a nuclear weapon if Ukrainian offensive was a success

13.07.2023

Russia to view F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine as threat in nuclear sphere - Lavrov

03.07.2023

Russia’s Medvedev says standoff with West to last decades, Ukraine conflict ’permanent’

25.06.2023

There is no choice left: Russia will have to launch a nuclear strike on Europe

21.06.2023

US, NATO’s aggressive policies may result in clash between nuclear powers

16.06.2023

Vladimir Putin delivers keynote address at St Petersburg forum

26.05.2023

Russia’s Medvedev warns West is underestimating risks of nuclear escalation over Ukraine

23.05.2023

Russia’s Medvedev: Western arms for Ukraine make ’nuclear apocalypse’ more likely

04.05.2023

Putin Allies Split Over Using Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine

25.04.2023

Russia warns again that risks of nuclear confrontation with US growing

25.04.2023

Putin ally: We are probably on verge of a new world war

05.04.2023

Russia, US are in hot conflict phase — senior diplomat

27.03.2023

Putin ally says Russia has weapons to destroy US if its existence is threatened

26.03.2023

Putin says Moscow to place nuclear weapons in Belarus, US reacts cautiously

23.03.2023

Any attempt to arrest Putin would be declaration of war on Russia, ally says

22.03.2023

Russia says risk of nuclear conflict at highest level in decades

27.02.2023

Russia’s Medvedev says arms supplies to Kyiv threaten global nuclear catastrophe

23.02.2023

Ukraine defends front, Putin talks up nuclear arsenal on war anniversary eve

22.02.2023

Russia’s war on Ukraine latest: Putin gives nuclear warning, Biden rallies allies

04.02.2023

Russia’s Medvedev says more U.S. weapons supplies mean ’all of Ukraine will burn’

19.01.2023

Putin ally warns NATO of nuclear war if Russia is defeated in Ukraine

25.12.2022

Only Russia’s nuclear arms preventing West from declaring war - Putin ally

09.12.2022

Russia may borrow US idea of disarming strike — Putin

05.12.2022

Russia’s Lavrov: NATO policy risks ’direct clash’ between nuclear powers

30.11.2022

Russia says it will focus on building nuclear arms infrastructure in 2023

17.11.2022

Russia is not considering using nuclear weapons - Kremlin says

02.11.2022

Russia: West must stop ’encouraging provocations’ to avoid nuclear disaster

18.10.2022

Russia says seized Ukrainian lands are under its nuclear protection

13.10.2022

Russian official warns of World War Three if Ukraine joins NATO

05.10.2022

Ukraine can be defeated with a nuclear strike on the United States - Fedorov

01.10.2022

Kadyrov says Russia should use low-yield nuclear weapon

27.09.2022

Medvedev raises spectre of Russian nuclear strike on Ukraine

23.09.2022

Moscow “not threatening anyone” with nuclear weapons

22.09.2022

Russia’s Medvedev: new regions can be defended with strategic nuclear weapons

21.09.2022

Ex-Putin adviser warns UK cities could be hit with nuclear weapons if Britain ‘continues to be aggressor’

21.09.2022

Putin escalates Ukraine war, issues nuclear threat to West

18.08.2022

Russia says nuclear weapons use possible only in ’emergency circumstances’

12.08.2022

Accidents can happen at European nuclear plants too,’ Russian ex-president says

01.08.2022

Putin says no one can win a nuclear war

17.07.2022

Russia’s Medvedev: Attack on Crimea will ignite ’Judgement Day’ response

06.07.2022

Russia’s Medvedev warns United States: messing with a nuclear power is folly

12.05.2022

Russia says Finnish entry to NATO poses threat to which it will respond

10.05.2022

On possible nuclear strike, Russia says: it’s all in our military doctrine

06.05.2022

Russian will not use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, foreign ministry says

30.04.2022

Russia says risks of nuclear war must be kept to minimum, TASS reports

25.04.2022

Russia’s Lavrov: Do not underestimate threat of nuclear war

24.04.2022

Russia warns of nuclear, hypersonic deployment if Sweden and Finland join NATO

22.03.2022

Kremlin spokesman: Russia would use nuclear weapons only in case of ’threat to existence of state’

28.02.2022

You’ll face consequences greater than any in history: Putin warns West

28.02.2022

“Why Do We Need a World if Russia Is Not In It?”: State TV Presenter Opens Show With Ominous Address

27.02.2022

Putin nuclear alert order part of pattern of made-up threats, U.S. says

27.02.2022

Putin puts nuclear deterrent on alert; West squeezes Russian economy

24.02.2022

EU says Putin’s ominous threat to those who hinder him marks ’critical moment’

13.12.2021

Russia says it may be forced to deploy mid-range nuclear missiles in Europe

25.02.2019

After Putin’s warning, Russian TV lists nuclear targets in U.S.

21.02.2019

Putin to U.S.: I’m ready for another Cuban Missile-style crisis if you want one

20.02.2019

Putin threatens to target US if it deploys missiles in nearby European countries

20.12.2018

Putin warns the threat of nuclear war should not be underestimated

24.10.2018

Russia will target European countries if they host U.S. nuclear missiles: Putin

27.05.2015

Nato chief says Russian nuclear threats are ’deeply troubling and dangerous’

22.03.2015

Russia threatens to aim nuclear missiles at Denmark ships if it joins NATO shield

01.09.2014

Russia Has Threatened Nuclear Attack, Says Ukraine Defence Minister

11.07.2014

Russia Threatens Nuclear Strikes Over Crimea

14.05.2014

Rogozin: Next time I will fly the Tu-160 (nuclear bomber)

16.03.2014

Russia can turn US to radioactive ash - Kremlin-backed journalist

04.04.2012

NATO - Russia talk of pre-emptive strike unjustified

23.03.2012

Medvedev calls missile defense a threat to Russia

23.11.2011

Russia in Europe missile threat

01.12.2010

Russia’s Putin warns West over missile defense: report

13.10.2009

Russia reserves pre-emptive nuclear strike right

15.08.2008

Moscow warns it could strike Poland over US missile shield

13.02.2008

Putin issues nuclear threat to Ukraine over plan to host US shield

11.04.2007

Russia threatening new cold war over missile defence

10.12.1999

Yeltsin gives US nuclear warning

Based on a list by Cuthbert, maintained by GrandTurion.

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