Russia issues fresh nuclear threat as WW3 tensions skyrocket

Russia raised once again the spectre of nuclear war on Wednesday after it said it is ready to carry out full-scale nuclear test explosions in the Arctic. The move comes amid high tension with the West and fears that the world could slide into World War 3.

Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov claimed the US had conducted an exercise in October, practising a preventive missile-nuclear strike on Russia. Vladimir Putin's senior General, Valery Gerasimov, claimed high-ranking US officials made clear Washington "is aiming to prepare and conduct nuclear tests".

"I consider it advisable to begin preparations for full-scale nuclear tests immediately," said Belousov at a hastily convened meeting of the Russian security council. "The readiness of the forces and facilities at the central test range on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago makes it possible to carry them out within a short time frame."

Putin did not give an immediate go-ahead but demanded "proposals on the possible start of work to prepare nuclear weapons for testing".

He told the council: "Russia has always strictly adhered, and continues to adhere, to its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. We have no plans to withdraw from these obligations."

But he made clear he had already stated that "should the United States or other states that are parties to the relevant treaty conduct such tests, Russia would also have to take adequate reciprocal actions.

"In this regard, I instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, the special services, and the relevant civilian agencies to do everything necessary to gather additional information on this matter."

Amid a frenzy over the Russian announcements, Putin's spokesman said: "I want to emphasize that the president did not give an order to start preparing for a test. The president instructed to work out the issue of the feasibility of starting preparations for such tests. This is what they will be doing now," he said.

The threat comes amid deeply strained relations between Moscow and the West over the illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Such tests have not been carried out on the Arctic archipelago for 35 years.

Russian officials have made clear that the site is ready if Putin gives the order.