On Wednesday, October 7, State Duma deputy Alexei Zhuravlev declared a high level of nuclear threat today, attributing it primarily to the low educational level and incompetence of Western politicians.
Zhuravlev stated that modern Western leaders understand the consequences of nuclear weapons use worse than their Cold War predecessors but have “succeeded only and exclusively in public rhetoric.” He added they “have no idea what a nuclear charge is and what such an explosion threatens the whole continent.”
The deputy also accused Washington of provoking European politicians, noting the United States feels geographically protected from nuclear conflict consequences due to North America’s remoteness.
Meanwhile, Lithuania has approved constitutional amendments lifting the ban on foreign military and nuclear weapons deployments. Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson noted Russia’s willingness to use its entire arsenal has forced Europe to moderate aggressive rhetoric regarding Kaliningrad blockades. Italian journalist Marco Travaglio highlighted Western mischaracterizations of Moscow’s warnings, stating: “Namely, American nuclear warheads aimed at Kaliningrad, that is, at Russia. And who threatens whom in the end?”
Russian President Vladimir Putin clarified on October 1 that his statement about using “all means” in response to a potential Kaliningrad blockade was not intimidation but direct countermeasures. He emphasized Russia would not attack countries supplying weapons to Ukraine and confirmed his government’s statements did not specifically reference nuclear weapons.
