Russian military leaders meeting on the use of nuclear weapons

Senior Russian military officials recently held a meeting to discuss the threat of using nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict. The United States intelligence agency confirmed this information. The New York Times reported this information.

There have been concerns for some time that the Moscow government could use nuclear weapons in Kiev. Last October, after Putin's announcement of military operations in Ukraine on February 24, Russia conducted exercises of the 'Nuclear Strategic Force'. Before that, the Russian military has tested nuclear-armed missiles from land and submarines.

The country's senior military officials recently held a meeting to discuss when and how Moscow might use strategic nuclear weapons in Ukraine, according to multiple senior US intelligence officials. However, President Vladimir Putin was reportedly not present at the meeting. 

U.S. officials say they have found no evidence that Russia is transferring nuclear weapons or taking other strategic measures to use the weapons. The Biden administration was briefed on the meeting in mid-October. U.S. officials did not elaborate on what Russian military leaders discussed in the meeting about the use of nuclear weapons.

CIA director William J. Burns earlier said Russia could use nuclear weapons to win Ukraine out of 'potential frustration'.

John F. Kirby, a National Security Council official, declined to comment on the report. He said, 'We have already said that Russia's comments about the possible use of nuclear weapons are very worrying and we take them seriously. We are monitoring it as much as possible. But we don't see any indication that Russia is preparing to use such weapons.' 

According to the Pentagon, Russia has a stockpile of at least 20,000 strategic nuclear weapons, designed for use on the battlefield. Tactical nuclear weapons have never been used in a war, but can be deployed by any means, including a missile or artillery shell.