Putin approves updated Russian nuclear doctrine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved an updated nuclear doctrine of the state. The decree was posted on November 19 on the portal of publication of legal acts.

"I decree to approve the attached Fundamentals of the state policy of the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear deterrence," the text reads.

The updated document includes amendments that the head of state announced in September. In particular, for the first time a definition of a potential adversary against whom the Russian Federation is conducting nuclear deterrence is introduced.

In addition, the conceptual basis for a nuclear strike is clarified. The Russian Federation reserves the right to use it in response to the use of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction against it or its allies.

Another ground is aggression against Russia or Belarus as members of the Union State with the use of conventional weapons in the event of a critical threat to their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

At the same time, a similar doctrine of 2020 was recognized as invalid. The decree comes into force from the day of signing.

Earlier, on September 25, Putin said it was necessary to adapt the foundations of state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence to modern realities. At that time, he said that the Defense Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Security Council, after an analysis, proposed a number of changes concerning a clearer fixation of the conditions for Russia's transition to the use of nuclear weapons.

The next day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out that the update of Russia's nuclear doctrine should be considered a certain signal to unfriendly countries.