Russian Modified Military Doctrine Not Providing for Preventive Nuclear Strikes

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RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED 07.09.2014

The provisions of Russia’s updated military doctrine concerning the use of Russian nuclear weapons, do not and cannot presuppose preventive nuclear strikes, former Chief of the General Staff of the Russia’s Armed Forces told RIA Novosti.

"First of all, it is not an issue of creating a new doctrine, but of amending the existing one. Where in the doctrine is the provision about preventive nuclear strikes? I recommend reading it carefully one more time …, especially article 22. The issue of preventive nuclear strikes is not considered. The use of nuclear weapons will be only retaliatory," General Yury Baluyevsky said.

The former Russian First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of General Staff was commenting on the recent media reports, claiming that “Russia’s new military doctrine will not contain provisions on preventive nuclear strikes and potential enemies.”

Baluyevsky is a member of a special working group set up within the framework of the Russian Security Council to introduce amendments to the doctrine, which was last updated in 2010.

Baluyevsky stressed that, according to the current doctrine, “Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapon in response to the use of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction against it or its allies, or in case of use of regular weapon, which threatens the existence of the entire state [of Russia].”

On Tuesday,the Russian Security Council announced that Russia will update its military doctrine by the end of 2014 to reflect new security threats, including the expansion of NATO, US missile shield plans and the political crisis in Ukraine.

According to the council, the amendments will also touch upon Russia’s independence in producing weapons, hardware and other military equipment production.

Topics: Russia

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