Former Russian president warns of nuclear retaliation if Ukraine attacks missile launch sites

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian former President Dmitry Medvedev warned Thursday of the use of nuclear weapons should Ukraine attack his country’s missile launch sites.

Medvedev, who currently serves as the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, said some Ukrainian officials have argued for striking his country’s missile launchers using long-range missiles provided by Western countries.

Noting that these officials, which he did not specify, underscored this to be the “best method to fight Russia,” Medvedev said that this would risk triggering Paragraph 19 of the country’s state policy in the area of nuclear deterrence.

Paragraph 19 of the nuclear doctrine, which was adopted in 2020 by presidential decree, outlines the possible conditions in which Russia can use nuclear weapons.

In his statement, Medvedev highlighted point “g” of Paragraph 19, which states that Moscow can consider using nuclear weapons in cases of “aggression against the Russian Federation using conventional weapons” where the “very existence of the state is threatened.”

“It has nothing to do with the right of self-defense; it is an unequivocal and obvious ground for us to use the nuclear weapons against such a state,” he said.

He went to say that this point is “a must to remember” for European countries supporting Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on Medvedev's remarks.