Russian Lawmaker Warns of Nuclear Response if Kaliningrad Is Threatened
State Duma deputy Andrey Kolesnik said Russia could use nuclear weapons against EU capitals if Kaliningrad is threatened, citing the exclave’s geopolitical position.
Andrey Kolesnik, a member of the State Duma Defense Committee, said that if the Kaliningrad Region is threatened, Russia could resort to a nuclear strike on the capitals of European Union countries. According to him, the region’s geopolitical position leaves Russia with no other options for defending its exclave.
Kolesnik also said that in the event of a massive drone threat, the use of tactical nuclear weapons may first be required. He explained that, because of the specific location of the Kaliningrad Region, in his assessment, there are effectively no alternative options.
The deputy added that the transition from tactical to strategic use of nuclear weapons could take not hours, but a matter of minutes. According to him, Western countries, by their actions, are leaving Russia no fallback options that would allow it to avoid such a scenario.
Kolesnik also recalled Russian President Vladimir Putin’s position on the defense of the Kaliningrad Region. He said the president had previously made it clear that, in the event of aggression against the region, Russia would respond with all available types of weapons.
Earlier, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys called on NATO to show Russia that alliance forces are capable of breaking through to the Kaliningrad Region. He also said that NATO could destroy Russian air defense systems and missile complexes.
For his part, Nikolai Patrushev, head of Russia’s Maritime Board, warned that in the event of aggression against the Kaliningrad Region, Lithuania would lose its peaceful existence.