As 1,000 days of war in Ukraine are marked, Vladimir Putin has approved a doctrine allowing responses with nuclear weapons to conventional attacks that pose "a critical threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Russia and Belarus.
It will also consider an "aggregated attack" the aggression of a non-nuclear country backed by a nuclear power. "The aggression of any State belonging to a military coalition (block, alliance) against the Russian Federation and/or its allies is seen as an aggression of the coalition as a whole," the text states, seen as a clear warning to the United States and NATO.
Additionally, Russia may resort to nuclear weapons in case of a "massive attack" with warplanes, cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, and other unmanned aerial vehicles violating the country's airspace. This is the first time drones, widely used by both sides, are mentioned.
Putin's doctrine emphasizes that Russia views nuclear weapons as a "deterrence instrument" of a defensive nature, with their use being an "extreme and forced measure."
Earlier on Tuesday, the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, had told the state news agency TASS that changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine "have already been formulated and will be formalized when necessary," without specifying the changes.
On the battlefield, a Russian drone attack has left nine dead, including a child, and 12 wounded in the second attack in 24 hours in the Sumy region.
Macron asserts that France's support for Ukraine "will not weaken"
Emmanuel Macron stated on Tuesday that his country's support for Ukraine "will not weaken" against the "imperialist and brutal" invasion by Russia.
The French president, in a social media message, said that Ukraine "is bravely resisting an illegal and unjustifiable aggression." "A thousand days in which Russia has continued with its imperialist and brutal goal, attacking civilian populations and violating the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter," he added.
NATO: Putin must not "get away with it"
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated on Tuesday in Brussels that Vladimir Putin must not "get away with it" in Ukraine, as it would leave a strengthened Russia at Europe's borders.
"We are ready to provide what is necessary to Ukraine (...) because it is crucial that Putin does not get away with it, as otherwise we would have a bold Russia at our borders," Rutte said before a meeting of EU Defense Ministers.
Nuclear weapons as a response to missiles on Russian territory
"Among the conditions justifying the use of nuclear weapons is the launch of ballistic missiles against Russia," states the decree signed by Putin after Washington authorized Kiev to attack Russia with its long-range missiles.
"It was necessary to adapt our fundamentals to the current situation," declared presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, referring to what Putin considers "threats" from the West to his country's security.
Death toll rises to 9 in Sumy, including a child
The Russian attack in the town of Gluhiv in the Sumy region has left at least nine dead, including a child, and 12 injured, as reported on Tuesday by emergency services, who are searching for four other people among the rubble.
Putin views nuclear weapons "as a deterrence instrument"
Putin's approved doctrine also allows Russia to resort to nuclear weapons in case of a "massive attack" with warplanes, cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, and other unmanned aerial vehicles violating the country's airspace. For the first time, the document refers not only to enemy aviation and hypersonic devices but also to drones, a warfare tool that has gained popularity in recent years.
At the same time, the doctrine emphasizes that Russia sees nuclear weapons as "a deterrence instrument" of a defensive nature, with their use being an "extreme and forced measure."
Putin approves doctrine allowing nuclear response to conventional attack
Russian President Vladimir Putin approved on Tuesday a nuclear doctrine allowing responses with nuclear weapons to conventional attacks threatening the sovereignty of Russia and Belarus, as reported by Efe.
The document will also consider an "aggregated attack" the aggression of a country without nuclear weapons but backed by a nuclear power.
EU pledges support for Ukraine
The presidents of the three main European institutions, the Commission, the Council, and the Parliament, pledged on Tuesday the lasting support of the European Union to Ukraine as 1,000 days of the "atrocious" war initiated by Russia are marked.
"On day 1,000 of Russia's atrocious war, Europe stands with Ukraine. For every day of the war. And every day thereafter," stated today the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a social media message.
"Russia tried to erase Ukraine from the map, but Russia has failed thanks to Ukraine's resistance and the sacrifice of its heroes," added the head of the European Commission in another video message.
Ukrainian Ambassador in Japan questions the "quality" of North Korean troops
Ukrainian Ambassador in Japan, Sergiy Korsunsky, stated that North Korean soldiers fighting on Moscow's side are not causing "any serious problems" to Ukraine due to "the quality" of the troops, as reported by Efe.
"In terms of the quality of the units that North Korea has sent to reinforce Russian troops, we do not have any serious problems. They cannot fight. Instead of training, they spend more time on porn websites because it is the first time they have access to the Internet and trying to feed themselves due to the lack of food in their country," Korsunsky stated during a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ).
"They also do not understand Russian, so they cannot communicate," added the Ukrainian dignitary, emphasizing beyond the soldiers, the presence in Russia of officers and advisors from Kim Jong-un's regime, "sent to study modern warfare."
Ukraine attacks enemy arsenal in the Russian region of Bryansk
The Ukrainian Army successfully attacked an enemy arsenal located in the Russian region of Bryansk, bordering Ukraine, early this morning, as reported on Tuesday by the Kiev State Department.
"On November 19, 2024, units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in cooperation with other defense force structures, inflicted damage on arsenal 1046 of the technical and material supply center in the area of the city of Karachev in the Bryansk oblast of the Russian Federation," reads the statement from the Ukrainian State Department.
According to the source, the attack caused 12 secondary explosions at the target. "The destruction of ammunition depots for the Army of the Russian occupiers to stop the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine will continue," concludes the statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack last night in the Sumy region on social media. "Tonight there was a drone attack on Gluhiv. There has been damage to the residence of an educational institution. At this moment, we know that seven people, including a child, have died due to the attack," Zelensky wrote.
Zelensky once again called for more determination and military assistance from the international community to prevent such incidents. "Each new Russian attack only confirms Putin's true intentions," the Ukrainian president wrote.
He added that the Kremlin wants to prolong the war. "Peace talks with him are of interest. We must force Russia to a fair peace by force," emphasized the Ukrainian head of state.
Russia strikes Sumy again: at least 7 dead
A Russian drone attack killed seven people and injured 12 last night in the town of Gluhiv in the Sumy region, northeastern Ukraine, as reported on Tuesday by local authorities.
This is the second deadly Russian attack this week in the region, where 11 people died early Monday when a missile hit a residential building. Also on Monday