Kubinka (Moscow region). August 16. INTERFAX-AVN - Russia has no plans to use tactical nuclear or chemical weapons in Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"Against this background, speculation is spreading in the media about the alleged impending use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons during a special military operation or about the readiness to use chemical weapons. All these information stuffing is an absolute lie," Shoigu said at an international security conference.
"From a military point of view, there is no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine to achieve the goals set. The main purpose of Russian nuclear weapons is to deter a nuclear attack. Its use is limited to extraordinary circumstances, which are defined in the Russian governing documents, which are open to the public," the minister said.
"The allegations about the possible use of chemical weapons in Ukraine are also absurd. Let me remind you that, unlike the United States, such weapons were completely destroyed in our country back in 2017 as part of the fulfillment of international obligations. At the same time, provocations using toxic substances have become the hallmark of the so-called public organizations sponsored by the West like the White Helmets in Syria," Shoigu said.
"The information provocations are aimed at diverting attention from the facts discovered in Ukraine that US specialists are conducting prohibited military biological research," he said.
