Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Putin, has issued a stark warning about the potential consequences if nuclear weapons were to fall into the hands of Wagner ‘bandits’.
As tensions rise in the region, Medvedev emphasized the grave risks involved.
Speaking to TASS, Medvedev highlighted the profound impact that a coup d’état in a major nuclear power could have. He stressed that the world has never faced a situation where a group of bandits could control such a vast arsenal of nuclear weapons.
The fallout from such a crisis would undoubtedly extend beyond the borders of a single country, pushing the entire world to the brink of annihilation.
As the current Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, Medvedev assured that Russia would not allow these catastrophic events to unfold, regardless of the intentions of the “crazy criminals” affiliated with Wagner.
He emphasized Russia’s determination to prevent any such scenario from becoming a reality.
Medvedev’s remarks come at a time when Putin is confronting a significant challenge to his longstanding rule.
Recent events, including the rebellion within Wagner Group forces and the subsequent stand-down, have shaken the foundations of Putin’s iron-fisted regime, which has dominated the Kremlin for over two decades.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the Wagner troops engaging in clashes with Russian military forces on their march towards Moscow. Reports of downed helicopters, a spy plane, and the destruction of an oil depot underscore the intensity of the conflict.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the warlord leading the Wagner group, claims to have agreed to withdraw his troops, despite their proximity to the capital.
The nuclear weapons issue has been a cause for concern, as Russia and its allies recently relocated missiles to Belarus, within striking distance of NATO territories.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko even went so far as to assert that he would not hesitate to employ these deadly weapons if deemed necessary.
By positioning nuclear weapons in Belarus, Russia has gained a strategic advantage, as it can now potentially target NATO territories. Putin, in a chilling statement, warned the United States against underestimating the risks of further escalation in Ukraine.
While claiming that sane individuals in the US would not desire a Third World War, he cautioned that such a conflict would bring about no winners, including America.
This move of nuclear warheads to Belarus represents the first time that Russia has deployed such weaponry outside its own borders since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Iskander family of missiles, capable of striking targets with exceptional power and speed of up to 5,800 mph, now poses a significant concern for neighbouring nations and further heightens tensions in the region.
