Russia has intensified the rhetoric surrounding its nuclear arsenal, notably through the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. This move, framed by Putin as a response to Western aggression, is not seen by many experts as a precursor to actual nuclear use, but rather as a tool for intimidation. Analysts suggest that this behavior serves to distract from Russia's conventional military challenges in Ukraine and assert its power to both the West and domestic audiences, emphasizing a serious stance against perceived threats.
"Those steps are part of a game to impress upon the West that the Russians are serious and that there are consequences of the West doing something," Hans Kristensen, Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, told The Cipher Brief.
Analysts also say Russia turns to the nuclear card when it seeks to offset or distract from conventional military setbacks in Ukraine.
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