Russian President Vladimir Putin has delivered his most explicit nuclear threat since the invasion of Ukraine began, while simultaneously confirming the devastating effectiveness of British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against Russian forces.
During a high-stakes press conference in St Petersburg, the Kremlin leader acknowledged that Western-supplied weaponry is inflicting significant damage on Russian positions in occupied Ukrainian territory. "Of course, they are causing serious damage", Putin admitted, specifically referencing the long-range precision missiles supplied by the United Kingdom.
Nuclear Sabre-Rattling Intensifies
Putin's comments took a more ominous turn as he addressed Russia's nuclear doctrine, suggesting Moscow could potentially adjust its nuclear weapons policy. "We are thinking about it", he stated when questioned about potential changes to Russia's nuclear first-use principles.
The Russian leader attempted to frame this escalation as a response to what he called "unprecedented" Western involvement in the conflict, particularly highlighting the deployment of Storm Shadow missiles that have enabled Ukrainian forces to strike deep behind Russian lines.
Storm Shadow's Battlefield Impact
British defence sources have confirmed the Storm Shadow cruise missiles have become one of Ukraine's most effective tools for targeting key Russian command centres, supply depots, and logistical hubs in occupied territories.
The missiles, with their 250km+ range and precision guidance systems, have allowed Ukrainian forces to:
- Disrupt Russian supply lines to the front
- Destroy high-value military targets
- Challenge Russia's air defence capabilities
- Force Russian command elements to relocate further from frontline areas
International Reaction and Escalation Fears
Putin's nuclear rhetoric comes amid growing concerns about potential escalation following recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil using Western weapons. The Russian president specifically criticised the United States for "supplying weapons to strike our territory".
Military analysts suggest that Putin's acknowledgement of Storm Shadow's effectiveness represents a significant admission, given Moscow's usual tendency to downplay Ukrainian military successes and Western weapon capabilities.
As the conflict enters its third year, the combination of increasingly sophisticated Western weaponry and escalating nuclear rhetoric from the Kremlin points to a dangerous new phase in the Ukraine war, with global security implications extending far beyond the immediate battlefield.
