Since 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale, illegal aggression into Ukraine, the Russian president and other high-ranking officials have more than once voiced threats of the use of nuclear weapons. This has resulted in such a heightened risk of nuclear war between Russia and Nato allies that has not been seen since the Cold War.

In May and June 2024, Russia renewed nuclear rhetoric, which it had scaled back in 2023: In a meeting with senior editors of international news agencies in early June, when asked about the prospect of using Russia’s nuclear arsenal, Putin said it was not out of the question. In May, Russia held field exercises designed to demonstrate the potential use of sub-strategic nuclear weapons by Russia against NATO or Ukraine. The drills were held in Russia’s Southern Military District, close to Ukraine and Ukrainian territories seized by Russia.

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