Russian President’s nuclear threat against Ukraine could be real, warns EU

A foreign spokesman for the EU has warned the world against ignoring Vladimir Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine as the Russian President orders new strikes on the state’s cities.

The EU’s foreign spokesman says the world needs to take seriously the threats by Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Earlier this week Mr Putin said Russia had “various weapons of destruction” and would “use all the means available to us”, adding: “I’m not bluffing.”

The final statement: “I’m not bluffing” is exactly what the EU’s foreign affairs high representative Josep Borrell told the BBC was key to the severity of Putin’s threat.

“When people say it is not a bluff, you have to take them seriously,” Mr Borrell said.

“It’s a dangerous moment because the Russian army has been pushed into a corner, and Putin’s reaction – threatening using nuclear arms – it’s very bad’’.

G7 foreign ministers announced further sanctions against Russia would follow after Mr Putin moved to mobilise 300,000 reservists for the ongoing war to seize Ukraine.

Mr Borrell told the BBC if a diplomatic solution that preserved the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine could not be reached, peace would never ensue.

“Otherwise, we can finish the war, but we will not have peace, and we will have another war,” Mr Borrell told the BBC.

Rescuers standing close to a destroyed building, following missile strike in Zaporizhzhia, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Picture: AFP

Overnight Russia replaced its highest ranking general in charge of logistics as its military operation in Ukraine runs into widespread logistic problems.

“Army General Dmitry Bulgakov has been relieved of the post of deputy minister of defence” and will be replaced by Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, the Russian defence ministry said on Telegram.

Russian forces have also launched new strikes on Ukrainian cities as Moscow-backed votes continued in occupied regions of Ukraine.

Zaporizhzhia governor Oleksandr Starukh said the Russians targeted infrastructure facilities in the Dnieper river city, and one of the missiles hit an apartment building, killing one person and injuring seven others.

The Russian forces also struck other areas in Ukraine.

It comes after Kremlin-held regions of eastern and southern Ukraine entered the second day of voting to become part of Russia on Saturday, in referendums dismissed as a “sham” by US President Joe Biden.

Rescuers standing close to a destroyed building, following missile strike in Zaporizhzhia. Picture: AFP

The voting on whether Russia should annex four regions of Ukraine started Friday, dramatically raising the stakes seven months after Moscow’s troops invaded.

The same day polling got under way, UN and Ukrainian officials revealed what they said was more evidence of Russian “war crimes” — including executions and torture.

“Russia’s referendums are a sham — a false pretext to try to annex parts of Ukraine by force in flagrant violation of international law,” Biden said.

Refugees from Ukraine regions held by Russia arrive to vote for a referendum at a polling station in Rostov-on-Don. Picture: AFP

“We will work with our allies and partners to impose additional swift and severe economic costs on Russia.” It even prompted a reaction from Beijing, Moscow’s closest ally since the war began in February.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi — in comments made to his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba at the UN General Assembly Friday — said the “sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected”.

Denys, 13, and Sasha, 10, cheer to passing vehicles from their mimicked checkpoint at the curve of a road in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region. Kyiv said its forces had recaptured a village in the eastern Donetsk region and territory around another war-scarred town there, as Moscow-proxies held votes on annexation by Russia. Picture: AFP

Ukrainian forces said they were clawing back territory from Moscow-backed separatists in the very lands Russia wants to assimilate.

Voting is being held in Russian-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east, and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south.

Authorities there are going door-to-door for four days to collect votes. Polling stations then open Tuesday for residents to cast ballots on the final day.

It was also possible to vote at the building in Moscow that represents the Donetsk breakaway region.

Leonid, a 59-year-old military official, told AFP he was “feeling happy”.

“Ultimately, things are moving towards the restoration of the Soviet Union. The referendum is one step towards this.”