'Russia may use nukes in Ukraine war'
Russia may use nuclear weapons if needed in Ukraine war. This is what the European Union (EU) thinks.
In an interview with the BBC on Saturday (September 24), EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said he believed Moscow could use nuclear weapons. He said, if there is an attempt to corner the Russian forces, then Russian President Vladimir Putin may order a nuclear attack.
In the interview, Borrell urged the European Union to take Russia's nuclear attack threat seriously. He said, Putin is not fooling around. The diplomat also said that the war is at a dangerous crossroads at the moment. In his words, now is a terrible moment. Because, the Russian forces are very cornered. And this is why Putin is threatening to use nuclear weapons.
Russia started military operations in Ukraine in February this year. The operation continued for about seven months after that. Through this operation, Russia has occupied almost one-fifth of the territory of Ukraine. However, recently, in the face of Ukraine's counter-offensive, Russia was forced to withdraw its troops from the important battlefield in Izium in the northeastern province of Kharkiv.
Reserve forces recruitment process has started for new deployment of troops in Ukraine. In the meantime, Russia has announced a reshuffle in the top positions of the Ministry of Defense. According to a report by Radio Free Asia, Bulgakov has been replaced by Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev. Mizintsev previously headed the National Defense Control Center of Russia.
Mizintsev is one of the most important commanders of Russia's ongoing military operations in Ukraine. It was under his leadership that Russian forces captured the southern port city of Ukraine, Mariupol, at the end of May. Meanwhile, referendums continue in four Russian-held regions of Ukraine. Pro-Russian separatist leaders of the regions organized referendums to join the territory of Russia.
Voting began on Friday (September 23) in Ukraine's eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk and southern Kherson and Zaporizhia, and will continue until Tuesday (September 27). Russian news agency TAM reported 23.6 percent of the vote in the Donetsk region on Friday, citing local officials. News agency Interfax reported that 20.5 percent of voters in Zaporizhia and 15 percent in Kherson voted.
