Russian President Vladimir Putin Could Use Tactical Nuclear Weapons In Ukraine As Last Resort: Report

Russian President Vladimir Putin may contemplate using tactical nuclear weapons as a final option in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to a report by Bloomberg. The source, citing Kremlin insiders, suggests that Putin views negotiations for a peace deal as futile. Tactical nuclear weapons are designed for limited battlefield use, posing significant destruction and nuclear fallout risks, though less severe than strategic nuclear arms.

China and India have cautioned Putin against employing nuclear weapons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials have conveyed Beijing's warning to Moscow against considering the use of tactical nuclear arms in Ukraine. Currently, Russia is reportedly considering escalating powerful conventional ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv and infrastructure targets in other Ukrainian cities.

In response, Ukraine has expanded its long-range drone campaign deeper into Russian territory, targeting major e-commerce warehouses and oil refineries to undermine Russia's wartime economy. Ukraine receives weapons and intelligence from NATO members for attacks on Russia, which Moscow perceives as direct attacks by NATO states.

Putin has downplayed the economic impact of Western sanctions on Russia, warning Ukraine to brace for potential retaliation on critical economic sectors. Concurrently, CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow to caution Russia against undermining NATO's resolve through a limited military operation against an alliance member. US intelligence agencies believe Putin might consider such a move in the future, ranging from cyberattacks to small ground incursions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the notion of a NATO attack, labeling such reports as mere speculation.