Moscow warns of using nukes against missile strike

Russia’s Vice Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has vowed that Moscow will resort to the use of nuclear weapons in response to an attack, describing atomic arms as “important” and key “deterrent” to provocateurs.

In Wednesday remarks at Russia’s legislative lower house, State Duma, Rogozin further suggested that such nuclear response may even come in reaction to a non-atomic missile attack.

“One can experiment as long as one wishes by deploying non-nuclear warheads on strategic missile carriers. But one should keep in mind that if there is an attack against us, we will certainly resort to using nuclear weapons in certain situations to defend our territory and state interests,” said the Russian defense industry chief, as quoted in a Thursday report by RT.

Insisting that the “this principle” is part of the country’s military doctrine, he emphasized, “We have never diminished the importance of nuclear weapons – the weapon of requital – as the great balancer of chances.”

Further suggesting that his warning may have been aimed at its chief nuclear rival, the US, the senior Russian official also announced the establishment of a fund to develop a military response to the American so-called Conventional Prompt Global Strike (PGS) strategy.

The PGS would reportedly enable the US military to strike targets anywhere on the planet, with conventional weapons in as little as an hour.

According to the report, Rogozin had explained earlier that the US strategy would give Washington an advantage over a nuclear state, “thanks to their better technical capabilities with weaponry, including the speed.”