Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree approving the updated nuclear doctrine, titled the “Fundamentals of State Policy in the Sphere of Nuclear Deterrence.” The document has been officially published.
The doctrine's core principle remains that nuclear weapons are a last resort for defending the nation's sovereignty. However, the update addresses new military threats and risks, necessitating revised criteria for the potential use of nuclear arms.
Key changes include an expanded list of states and military alliances subject to nuclear deterrence measures and a broader range of military threats warranting such actions. Notably, aggression by a non-nuclear state, if supported or joined by a nuclear-armed nation, will be treated as a joint attack on Russia. Furthermore, Russia reserves the right to a nuclear response in cases of critical threats to its sovereignty, even with conventional weapons, or in response to attacks on Belarus as part of the Union State. Other scenarios include mass deployments of military aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, or other aerial devices that violate Russian airspace.
The previous version of Russia's nuclear doctrine was approved in June 2020, replacing a document that had been in effect for a decade.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS