A rising number of Russians are ready to approve Vladimir Putin using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
Some 34 per cent – just over one in three – would definitely or likely support use of the ultimate weapon in the conflict.
This is five per cent higher than one year ago, and the highest since Putin launched his illegal war against the sovereign state Ukraine.
The findings from the Levada Centre show 31 per cent are definitely against the use of weapons, while 21 per cent are likely against it.
The upward trend shows the success of Russian propagandists seeking to gain support for nuclear use.
Russian soldiers load a Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile launchers at a firing position as part of Russian military drill intended to train the troops in using tactical nuclear weapons on June 12
Russian soldiers load a Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile launchers at a firing position as part of Russian military drill intended to train the troops in using tactical nuclear weapons in June
A Yars ICBM is launched by Russian strategic nuclear forces in this October 2022 clip
Drills of Russia’s strategic missile forces in the Irkutsk region. Footage from the Defence Ministry’s TV channel shows Yars missile carriers
Putin recently ordered tactical nuclear missile drills in Russia and neighbouring Belarus which he has supplied with atomic weapons.
The Kremlin dictator is considering changing the country’s nuclear doctrine, to lower the threshold for using such weapons.
Currently he could authorise the use of tactical – or battlefield – nuclear weapons on the basis of a perceived threat to the Russian state from attack by conventional or nuclear weapons.
Russia is staging major nuclear missile drills today as Britain ushers in a new government.
On the orders of Vladimir Putin, the Yars missile crews practised deployment in two regions, Irkutsk and Ivanovo.
A video showed a mobile launcher manoeuvring along forest roads and taking up position before troops covered it in camouflage netting.
‘Similar exercises will be held by other missile units in the near future,’ said the Russian defence ministry.
Previous such tests were held in late June and they also coincide with Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour government taking over from the Tories in Britain.
Russia expects the incoming administration to be as supportive of Ukraine as the outgoing Rishi Sunak government.
In this photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, March 1, 2024, a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired from the Plesetsk launch pad in northwestern Russia
Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers parade through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, June 25, 2024
‘Units of Yars ground mobile missile systems are implementing measures to perform marches to a distance of up to 100km [62 miles], disperse the systems at the same time changing their field positions and their engineering equipment, camouflage them and ensure their combat storage,’ said the ministry.
Vladimir Putin‘s forces drilled strikes with tactical nuclear weapons on Ukraine or the West with land, air and sea-based launches on June 13.
The Russian defence ministry stressed the launches were simulated, but everything else was performed by troops as it would be in a genuine attack.
A naval crew was seen pressing the button on a nuclear hit from a warship believed to be in the Baltic Sea to hit a target some 220 miles away, while Tu-22M3 nuclear capable bombers were pictured taking off from an undisclosed airstrip.
Meanwhile, a land-based mobile crew in Leningrad Military District in northwest Russia was shown loading suspected Iskander nuclear-capable mobile short-range ballistic missiles, although the warheads were blurred in the footage.
The unsettling footage came as the US announced an expansion of its sanctions regime against the Kremlin, prompting Russia’s deputy chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev to declare that Moscow should inflict ‘maximum harm on the USA and their ‘f***king allies’.
A still image taken from a handout video made available by the Russian Defence Ministry press-service shows Russian servicemen operating a non-strategic nuclear missile for Iskander operational-tactical missile system during the second stage of tactical nuclear drills of Russian and Belarus armed forces at an undisclosed location
Russian servicemen operating a non-strategic nuclear missile for Iskander operational-tactical missile system
In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, Russian military personnel load a cruise missile on board a warship during Russian military drills
In this photo taken from video on Monday, June 10, 2024, and released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, A Russian Tu-22M3 bomber is seen in flight during joint Russian-Belarusian drills intended to train the military to use tactical nuclear weapons
In accordance with the decision of the President of the Russian Federation, the second stage of the exercise of non-strategic nuclear forces has begun, the Kremlin said
A pair of MiG-31 fighter jets of the Russian air force taxi out for a training mission with two Tu-22M3 bombers seen in the background during joint Russian-Belarusian drills intended to train the military to use tactical nuclear weapons
Russia’s deputy chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev declared that Moscow should inflict ‘maximum harm on the USA and their ‘f***king allies’
The drills were the second part of several phases of tactical nuclear weapons exercises planned by the Russian defence ministry, which are taking place in coordination with the forces of Belarus.
‘The second phase of drills involving Russia’s non-strategic nuclear forces included electronic missile launches by rocket units and naval patrol operations,’ said a statement from the Russian defence ministry.
‘During the second phase of the exercises, personnel from the rocket division of the Leningrad Military District practised covert movement to designated positions and conducted electronic missile launches at simulated enemy targets.
‘Additionally, Navy crews involved in the exercise deployed to their assigned patrol areas.
‘Earlier, tasks were completed for receiving special training ammunition for arming sea- and land-based missile carriers.’
Tactical nuclear weapons – which top Russian officials have threatened to use – could create horrific devastation but on a lesser scale than the obliteration caused by a much larger strategic nuclear missile.
The Russians did not give a location for the targets, but previously threats have included Ukraine or NATO territory.
On June 12, footage showed naval crews ‘equipping sea-based cruise missiles with training special warheads’ before moving to ‘designated patrol areas’.
Nuclear-equipped 3M-80/82 Moskit/-M anti-ship missiles were reportedly shown being loaded into the launcher of a Project 12411M vessel of Russia’s Baltic Fleet.
Russian ally Belarus is also involved in the second stage of the tactical nuclear missile tests currently in progress.
Moscow has claimed it wants the tactical nuclear drills to ‘cool the hot heads in Western capitals’.
This followed French President Emmanuel Macron hinting at sending European troops to fight in Ukraine.
Former British Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron also said Kyiv had the right to use weapons provided by London to strike targets inside Russia.
Since then, the US has permitted Kyiv to use American missiles to attack border region targets inside Russia used to hit Ukraine.
Military jets take off from the airfield during the second stage of tactical nuclear drills of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus at an undisclosed location, in this still image from video released June 11, 2024
Russian heavy armour and missile launchers are seen deploying to firing positions
Missiles are loaded into launch tubes aboard a Russian warship
The exercises are aimed at maintaining the readiness of personnel and equipment of units for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons of Russia and Belarus, the Russian Ministry of Defence said
Dmitry Medvedev, (R) deputy head of the Kremlin’s powerful security council, and a former Russian president and prime minister, pictured with Vladimir Putin (L)
In a stunning rant published on the Telegram messaging app in June, former Russian President Medvedev hit out at the US and Western partners after the White House announced it had expanded its sanctions regime on Moscow.
‘Here are the new American sanctions. There will be new European ones soon. Do we need to respond to them? It seems not, their number is already measured in tens of thousands. We have learned to live and develop with them.
‘On the other hand, it is necessary. Not only to the authorities, the state, but to all our people in general. To everyone who loves our Motherland – Russia. After all, they – the USA and their f***ing allies – declared war on us without rules!
He went on: ‘Every day we must try to inflict maximum harm on those countries that have imposed these restrictions on our country and all our citizens. Harm in everything that can cause harm. Harm to their economies, their institutions and their rulers. Harm to the well-being of their citizens.
‘Cause damage in all places, paralyzing the work of their companies and government agencies. Find problems in their most important technologies and strike them mercilessly. Literally destroy their energy, industry, transport, banking and social services. Instill fear of the imminent collapse of all critical infrastructure.
He concluded the rant with a terrifying call to action.
‘Let’s turn their life into a complete crazy nightmare in which they will not be able to distinguish wild fiction from the realities of the day, infernal evil from the routine of life. And no rules regarding the enemy!
‘Let them get everything in full for harming Russia and as painfully as possible! Everyone can contribute!,’ he said.