UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – The Russian president warned at the end of September that his country could now use nuclear weapons in the event of a “massive launch” of air attacks against Russia.
On the thousandth day of his offensive against Ukraine, the Russian president signed a decree expanding the possibilities of using nuclear weapons. Even though a Russian strike left 7 dead in the Sumy region, in the northeast of Ukraine. Le Figaro takes stock of the situation on Tuesday November 19.
Putin signs decree expanding the possibilities of using nuclear weapons
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed on Tuesday, on the thousandth day of his offensive against Ukraine, the decree expanding the possibilities of using nuclear weapons, just after the United States authorized kyiv to strike Russian soil with its long-range missiles.
“Among the conditions justifying the use of nuclear weapons is the launch of ballistic missiles against Russia”according to this decree. “It was necessary to adapt our foundations to the current situation”explained the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov, in the face of what Vladimir Putin considers to be «menaces» emanating from the West against the security of Russia.
Putin warned at the end of September that his country could now use nuclear weapons in the event of “massive launch” air attacks against Russia and that any assault carried out by a non-nuclear country, such as Ukraine, but supported by a power with atomic weapons, such as the United States, could be considered as aggression “spouse”potentially requiring the use of nuclear weapons.
Russian strike kills 7, including a child, in northeastern Ukraine
A Russian nighttime strike killed seven people, including a child, in a region of northeastern Ukraine, the scene of an upsurge in deadly bombings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday. The strike carried out by a drone targeted the Sumy region, bordering that of Kursk in Russia, where Ukrainian forces occupy part of the territory after an offensive in August. “This night, a drone struck Hloukhiv, destroying a dormitory in one of the educational establishments. At the moment, we know that seven people, including a child, were tragically killed in this attack.Zelensky said, adding that other victims could be trapped under the rubble.
The Ukrainian president posted a video online showing rescuers searching through the rubble and extracting, at dawn, one of the people killed in a black body bag. “More than ten other people were injured, including two children, and people may still be trapped under the rubble”added Zelensky. This attack comes two days after a Russian missile attack killed eight people, including a child, in Sumy. Russian bombings have razed entire neighborhoods near the front line and decimated energy facilities across Ukraine.
