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Vatnik Soup

Russian Nuclear Threats Timeline

Nuclear blackmail: 130 threats.

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Statements by Russia's president, including Putin, and formal communications issued on behalf of the Kremlin, Russian government, ministries or embassies. Includes official nuclear doctrine and military documents. Historical statements are classified by the office held at the time.
Individually attributed statements by senior government, military or allied officials whose remarks carry political weight. Includes ministers, Security Council leaders, military commanders and ambassadors. Examples include Lavrov, Shoigu and Medvedev after his presidency.
Statements by other politicians and parliamentarians, academics, oligarchs and media commentators, such as Sergey Markov, Andrey Gurulev and Konstantin Malofeev.
Level
2026-09-30Russia sends nuclear warning to NATO as tensions rise in the Baltic1
2026-09-10Medvedev warns Russia could reduce Kyiv and key NATO targets to nuclear dust2
2026-07-08Kremlin warns of countermeasures if Baltic states host nuclear weapons1
2026-06-09Galuzin says Russia and Belarus are ready to use nuclear weapons to defend the Union State2
2026-06-04Orthodox oligarch Konstantin Malofeev presents Russia’s future scenarios at economic forum — the ‘positive’ one involves a nuclear strike3
2026-05-21Russia stages major nuclear exercises as Putin stresses nuclear deterrence amid tensions with NATO1
2026-04-23Grushko warns European countries hosting French nuclear-capable bombers would become Russian targets2
2026-03-06Russia warns of countermeasures if Finland hosts nuclear weapons1
2026-02-24Russia’s Foreign Ministry warns of direct conflict between nuclear powers over unsubstantiated claims about arming Ukraine1
2025-11-05Putin orders officials to examine proposals for resuming nuclear weapons tests1
2025-10-22Putin oversees strategic nuclear drills after talks with Trump are postponed1
2025-07-31Medvedev invokes Russia’s ‘Dead Hand’ nuclear strike system in warning to Trump2
2025-06-22Putin Ally Says Countries Now Ready to Supply Iran With Nuclear Weapons2
2025-06-20Putin warns of a catastrophic response under Russia’s nuclear doctrine if Ukraine uses a dirty bomb1
2025-04-29Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin ally threatens Nato with nuclear strikes in wild speech2
2025-04-23Top Russian official says Moscow has right to use nuclear weapons if attacked by West, TASS reports2
2025-03-10Russia warns Australia deploying peacekeeping troops to Ukraine would lead to “grave consequences”1
2024-11-26Russia’s Medvedev warns West over discussing nuclear weapons for Ukraine2
2024-11-19Putin issues warning to United States with new nuclear doctrine1
2024-11-18Russia threatens UK with ‘nuclear war by Christmas’ in chilling WW3 warning3
2024-10-29Putin orders nuclear drills simulating a massive response to an enemy nuclear strike1
2024-10-27Putin Says Hopes West ‘Heard’ Warning Over Long-Range Strikes1
2024-09-26Putin issues nuclear warning to the West over strikes on Russia from Ukraine1
2024-09-19Putin ally warns West of nuclear war over Ukraine2
2024-09-14Putin draws new red line on long-range missiles1
2024-09-13Don’t forget Russia is a nuclear power, says UN ambassador2
2024-09-06Russia MP claims Putin will give Brits ’three days to leave UK’ before using ’atomic’ tsunami3
2024-06-20Russia considering changes to nuclear doctrine, Putin claims1
2024-06-06Putin warns he could provide weapons to attack the West and issues new nuclear threat1
2024-05-12Putin Ally Threatens NATO Countries With ‘Special Ammunition’2
2024-05-10Belarus dictator Lukashenko admits he is ‘bonkers’ and has no ‘red lines’ as he threatens the West with nukes and warns ’we are closer than ever to nuclear catastrophe’2
2024-05-10Putin hires hardline professor who suggested nuking Europe to ‘test NATO’s resolve’ for Kremlin role ‘deterring the West’3
2024-05-09Putin Renews Nuclear Threats Against West at Military Parade1
2024-05-06Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with Western officials1
2024-05-06Medvedev warns of nuclear attacks on European capitals in case of sending troops to Ukraine2
2024-04-17Ukraine May Have Just Crossed Putin’s Nuclear Red Line1
2024-03-18Putin warns the West a Russia-NATO conflict is just one step from World War Three1
2024-03-14Putin warns the West: Russia is ready for nuclear war1
2024-02-29Putin threatens NATO with nuclear strike if it sends troops to Ukraine1
2024-02-28Russia prepared for nuclear attack on China, leaked papers reveal1
2024-02-18Russia’s Medvedev threatens to nuke US, UK, Germany, Ukraine2
2024-01-17Russia-US relations ‘teetering on brink of abyss’, ambassador to US says2
2024-01-11Medvedev warns of nuclear response if Ukraine hits missile launch sites2
2023-11-16Russia loads missile with nuclear-capable glide vehicle into launch silo1
2023-11-06Russian Official Issues Nuclear Weapons Warning After Historic Achievement2
2023-10-30Western policy towards Russia threatens military clash between nuclear powers — Shoigu2
2023-10-25Russia tests nuclear forces in land, sea and air rehearsal for a massive retaliatory strike1
2023-10-20American-led world sliding headfirst into deepest abyss, Medvedev says2
2023-10-05Russia’s retaliatory nuclear strike to leave enemy with no chances of survival — Putin1
2023-07-30Russia’s Medvedev: We’d have to use a nuclear weapon if Ukrainian offensive was a success2
2023-07-13Russia to view F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine as threat in nuclear sphere - Lavrov2
2023-07-03Russia’s Medvedev says standoff with West to last decades, Ukraine conflict ’permanent’2
2023-06-25There is no choice left: Russia will have to launch a nuclear strike on Europe3
2023-06-21US, NATO’s aggressive policies may result in clash between nuclear powers1
2023-06-16Vladimir Putin delivers keynote address at St Petersburg forum1
2023-05-26Russia’s Medvedev warns West is underestimating risks of nuclear escalation over Ukraine2
2023-05-23Russia’s Medvedev: Western arms for Ukraine make ‘nuclear apocalypse’ more likely2
2023-05-04Putin Allies Split Over Using Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine2
2023-04-25Russia warns again that risks of nuclear confrontation with US growing2
2023-04-25Putin ally: We are probably on verge of a new world war2
2023-04-05Russia, US are in hot conflict phase — senior diplomat2
2023-03-27Putin ally says Russia has weapons to destroy US if its existence is threatened2
2023-03-26Putin says Moscow to place nuclear weapons in Belarus, US reacts cautiously1
2023-03-23Any attempt to arrest Putin would be declaration of war on Russia, ally says2
2023-03-22Russia says risk of nuclear conflict at highest level in decades2
2023-02-27Russia’s Medvedev says arms supplies to Kyiv threaten global nuclear catastrophe2
2023-02-23Ukraine defends front, Putin talks up nuclear arsenal on war anniversary eve1
2023-02-22Russia’s war on Ukraine latest: Putin gives nuclear warning, Biden rallies allies1
2023-02-04Russia’s Medvedev says more U.S. weapons supplies mean ‘all of Ukraine will burn’2
2023-01-19Putin ally warns NATO of nuclear war if Russia is defeated in Ukraine2
2022-12-25Only Russia’s nuclear arms preventing West from declaring war - Putin ally2
2022-12-09Russia may borrow US idea of disarming strike — Putin1
2022-12-05Russia’s Lavrov: NATO policy risks ‘direct clash’ between nuclear powers2
2022-11-30Russia says it will focus on building nuclear arms infrastructure in 20232
2022-11-17Russia is not considering using nuclear weapons - Kremlin says1
2022-11-02Russia: West must stop ‘encouraging provocations’ to avoid nuclear disaster1
2022-10-26Russia rehearses a massive retaliatory nuclear strike under Putin’s supervision1
2022-10-18Russia says seized Ukrainian lands are under its nuclear protection1
2022-10-13Russian official warns of World War Three if Ukraine joins NATO2
2022-10-05Ukraine can be defeated with a nuclear strike on the United States - Fedorov3
2022-10-01Kadyrov says Russia should use low-yield nuclear weapon2
2022-09-27Medvedev raises spectre of Russian nuclear strike on Ukraine2
2022-09-23Moscow ‘not threatening anyone’ with nuclear weapons2
2022-09-22Russia’s Medvedev: new regions can be defended with strategic nuclear weapons2
2022-09-21Ex-Putin adviser warns UK cities could be hit with nuclear weapons if Britain ‘continues to be aggressor’3
2022-09-21Putin escalates Ukraine war, issues nuclear threat to West1
2022-08-18Russia says nuclear weapons use possible only in ‘emergency circumstances’1
2022-08-12‘Accidents can happen at European nuclear plants too’, Russian ex-president says2
2022-08-01Putin says no one can win a nuclear war1
2022-07-17Russia’s Medvedev: Attack on Crimea will ignite ‘Judgement Day’ response2
2022-07-06Russia’s Medvedev warns United States: messing with a nuclear power is folly2
2022-05-12Russia says Finnish entry to NATO poses threat to which it will respond1
2022-05-10On possible nuclear strike, Russia says: it’s all in our military doctrine2
2022-05-06Russian will not use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, foreign ministry says1
2022-04-30Russia says risks of nuclear war must be kept to minimum, TASS reports2
2022-04-25Russia’s Lavrov: Do not underestimate threat of nuclear war2
2022-04-24Russia warns of nuclear, hypersonic deployment if Sweden and Finland join NATO2
2022-04-20Putin uses Sarmat nuclear-capable missile test to warn Russia’s adversaries1
2022-03-22Kremlin spokesman: Russia would use nuclear weapons only in case of ‘threat to existence of state’1
2022-02-28‘Why Do We Need a World if Russia Is Not In It?’: State TV Presenter Opens Show With Ominous Address3
2022-02-27Putin puts nuclear deterrent on alert; West squeezes Russian economy1
2022-02-24EU says Putin’s ominous threat to those who hinder him marks ‘critical moment’1
2021-12-13Russia says it may be forced to deploy mid-range nuclear missiles in Europe2
2020-06-02Putin publishes nuclear-use policy covering attacks that could disable Russia’s nuclear retaliation1
2019-02-25After Putin’s warning, Russian TV lists nuclear targets in U.S.3
2019-02-21Putin to U.S.: I’m ready for another Cuban Missile-style crisis if you want one1
2019-02-20Putin threatens to target US if it deploys missiles in nearby European countries1
2018-12-20Putin warns the threat of nuclear war should not be underestimated1
2018-10-24Russia will target European countries if they host U.S. nuclear missiles: Putin1
2018-10-18Putin says nuclear attackers would be annihilated in retaliation1
2018-03-01Putin warns nuclear attacks on Russia or its allies would trigger an immediate response1
2015-03-22Russia threatens to aim nuclear missiles at Denmark ships if it joins NATO shield2
2015-03-15Putin says Russia was prepared to put nuclear forces on alert over Crimea1
2014-09-01Russia Has Threatened Nuclear Attack, Says Ukraine Defense Minister1
2014-08-29Putin warns foreign states against confronting nuclear Russia1
2014-07-11Russia Threatens Nuclear Strikes Over Crimea2
2014-05-14Rogozin: Next time I will fly the Tu-160 (nuclear bomber)2
2014-03-16Russia can turn US to radioactive ash - Kremlin-backed journalist3
2012-04-04NATO - Russia talk of pre-emptive strike unjustified2
2012-03-23Medvedev calls missile defense a threat to Russia1
2011-11-23Russia in Europe missile threat1
2010-12-01Russia’s Putin warns West over missile defense: report1
2009-10-13Russia reserves pre-emptive nuclear strike right2
2008-08-15Moscow warns it could strike Poland over US missile shield2
2008-02-13Putin issues nuclear threat to Ukraine over plan to host US shield1
2007-06-03Putin threatens to retarget nuclear missiles at Europe1
2007-04-11Russia threatening new cold war over missile defence1
2000-01-10Putin lowers Russia’s threshold for using nuclear weapons1
1999-12-10Yeltsin gives US nuclear warning1
1993-11-03Russia abandons its nuclear no-first-use pledge1

Based on a list by Cuthbert.

See also: Red lines in the Russo-Ukrainian War