Russian military officials have discussed when and how to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, US claims

US defence officials have made an alarming claim, saying Russian leaders have discussed when and how to use nuclear weapons.

Senior military officials in Russia have discussed how and when to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, the United States has claimed.

The revelation suggests Moscow’s dark talk of potentially using nukes may not be mere bluster.

However, American security leaders have said there are no signs Russia has made any moves to actually use nuclear weapons, and that recent comments from President Vladimir Putin that there was “no need” for the use of the bombs, along with increased communications between Washington D.C. and Moscow, had taken some of the heat out of the threat.

Nonetheless, the very fact that Russian military leaders have strategised over the use of the weapons has alarmed the Biden administration.

The US has said Putin was not part of the discussions. Only he can authorise the use of nuclear weapons.

The US has said Russian military leaders have had discussions about how and when to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine. (Photo by Handout / Russian Defence Ministry / AFP)

In recent weeks, Moscow has accused Ukraine of preparing to use a so-called radioactive “dirty bomb” - claims Kyiv and its allies have rubbished.

American intelligence said the nuclear discussions between military officials in Moscow took place in mid-October.

US National Security Council official John Kirby was reported by the New York Times as saying Washington would not comment on “the particulars” of the claims or how specific and progressed the Russian discussions were.

“We’ve been clear from the outset that Russia’s comments from the potential use of nuclear weapons are deeply concerning, and we take them seriously,” he said.

“We continue to monitor this as best we can, and we see no indications that Russia is making preparations for such use.”

But there’s also no guarantee the US would be able to precisely detect moves to use a tactical nuke.

The US National Security Council’s John Kirby said Russia talk of nuclear weapons use was “deeply disturbing”. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Russia’s war in Ukraine is widely seen as failing to live up to Moscow’s expectations. While Putin’s forces have grabbed significant chunks of Ukrainian territory, most major cities are under Kyiv’s control, the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky remains in place and Ukraine has managed to reclaim land initially lost.

That has stoked fears that Moscow might use one of its thousands of nuclear weapons in Ukraine to try to turn the war in its favour.

It would be a desperate act, but there are concerns Putin may take that step – risky as it is – if Russia risks defeat on the battlefield.

However, any such use would be a major escalation of the conflict and could see NATO forces dragged into the battle.

The US and its allies have repeatedly told Moscow any move to use a weapon of mass destruction would elicit a heavy response. Although the West has declined to lay out exactly what this response would be.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has both talked up the use of nuclear weapons and then said Russia wouldn't use them. (Photo by Sergei GUNEYEV / SPUTNIK / AFP)

In recent weeks Russian and America officials have held direct phone conversations, which is being seen as a positive sign.

In addition, Putin last week denied that Russia would use a nuclear weapons.

“We see no need for that. Neither political, nor military,” he said.

Yesterday, Russia also said it would also rejoin a deal to allow grain to be exported from Ukraine after it suspended co-operation following a drone attack on its warships.

Yet Russian defence Minister Sergi Shoigu has continued to bring up the nuclear issue, this week accusing Ukraine of “nuclear blackmail”.

“The United States and European countries defiantly ignore elements of nuclear blackmail by the Ukrainian authorities, for example, provocations against the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” he said, according to The Sun.

Shoigu again raised the unfounded dirty bomb claims and added that Ukraine was ready to place nuclear weapons on its soil.

There are concerns that Russia, rather that Ukraine, could detonate a dirty bomb and try and blame the action on Kyiv.