Russian state TV hosts and guests have warned the West that if they feel Russia has been pushed into a corner they will ensure "everyone will be destroyed."
The rhetoric surrounding the war in Ukraine has been escalated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who gave a speech earlier this week. In the pre-recorded statement on Wednesday, he announced the partial mobilization of Russians to go fight in Ukraine.
In addition, Putin warned the West that Russia wasn't bluffing about the use of nuclear weapons being used if Ukraine continues to receive support.
Military expert Igor Korotchenko and state TV host Olga Skabeeva agreed that Russia would use nuclear weapons if they felt Russia was under threat of being destroyed.
The video has also gone viral with over 160,000 views, after being posted by the Daily Beast's Julia Davis.
There was palpable frustration in the Russian media that many in the West misunderstood what Putin said—he was threatening the West, not Ukraine, with nuclear strikes. And so, droves of propagandists have been sent out to tell the West: push us into a corner and everybody dies. pic.twitter.com/quXcMZd7SE
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) September 23, 2022
Korotchenko said: "The only thing the West fears today is the possibility of Russia using its tactical nuclear weapons.
"In this regard, the words uttered by Vladimir Putin are very valuable nonetheless.
"In the West they're considering them and analyzing what would be the circumstances for Russia to use such an argument in order to avoid any scenarios that Moscow would consider to be unacceptable."
"The West has to understand: if certain weapons exist, taboos and limitations on using them could be lifted in certain circumstances."
The host went on to defend Russia's position regarding Ukraine and said the country was not looking for conflict.
"What do they want? They want a victory over Russia," Skabeeva said.
"It is impossible to defeat Russia without a nuclear explosion. It's out of the question.
"We will not allow the destruction of our country, if you're trying to destroy us, you will be destroyed along with us.
"What are our next actions? [Striking] the decision-making centers? In Kyiv, London, Washington - where?
"What should we do to avoid the nuclear war, or is it already a given? It certainly seems that way.
"If they don't stop, it will become a reality. What is the goal of the collective West?
"The victory of Ukraine and the defeat of Russia. As long as the Russian Federation has nukes, [and we do], its defeat is impossible.
"Push us into the corner- everyone will be destroyed. Is that what they're trying to achieve?
"Putin said it so succinctly, so clearly. We aren't threatening, we don't want war. We're the first in line to stop it.
"We don't want a nuclear winter or nuclear war, But if you declare that we will be destroyed, we will have to destroy you."
Newsweek has contacted Russia's ministry of foreign affairs for comment.
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Gerrard Kaonga is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter and is based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on U.S. ... Read more
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