Desperate Putin could deploy mini-nukes in warning to Nato if ‘clusterf**k’ invasion continues, warns US intelligence
VLADIMIR Putin could unleash mini-nukes in a warning to Nato if his "clusterf**k" invasion continues, US intelligence chiefs have warned.
CIA Director William Burns told US lawmakers the long-standing Russian leader has been "stewing in a combustible combination of grievance and ambition for many years".
Speaking at a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, the heads of the CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency gave their grave assessment of Putin's intentions.
The chiefs branded Putin an "angry" isolated leader craving global clout - and said he's frustrated about how his Ukraine invasion hasn't gone to plan.
It comes after one Kremlin official reportedly described Putin's campaign to subdue Ukraine as a "clusterf**k" as nine of his military commanders have now been killed in the invasion.
The Russian strongman has encountered a tidal wave of sanctions and condemnation for the deadly invasion - leaving him more isolated than ever before.
The US intelligence community has now warned of the potential for an increasingly desperate Putin to lash out - noting an elevated nuclear threat.
Putin took the shock step last month of putting Russia's nuclear forces on high alert - and some US officials privately expressed concern he might order deployment of mini-nukes on a Ukrainian city.
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Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, director of the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, said Russia has been working overtime to modernise its weapon - particularly smaller-yield nuclear weapons.
Mr Berrier said Putin has "invested in tactical nuclear weapons".
He added: "I believe that he thinks that gives him an asymmetric advantage.
“I also believe that when he says something, we should listen very, very carefully and maybe take him at his word.
"So this question is the one that analysts are pondering right now, and I think we really do some more work on it."
Dr Patricia Lewis, who leads the International Security programme at Chatham House, said short range, lower yield "battlefield" nuclear weapons would most likely be used by the Russians in an attack on Ukraine.
There are thought to be more than 1,000 such weapons ready to go.
Dr Lewis said: "These would have to be taken from storage and connected to missiles, or placed in bombers, or as shell in artillery.
"Any movement to ready and deploy Russian nuclear weapons would be seen and monitored by US and others’ satellites, which can see through cloud cover and at night.
"Depending on other intelligence and analysis – and the failure of all diplomatic attempts to dissuade Russia – Nato countries may decide to intervene to prevent launch by bombing storage sites and missile deployment sites in advance."
A former senior White House official told that the risk of a first nuclear move from Russian is rising - mostly because Putin doesn’t view such weapons in the same way as the US.
The source warned the danger is growing “precisely because the conflict in Ukraine is going badly".
CIA's Mr Burns said Putin is "angry and frustrated right now".
He added: "He's likely to double down and try to grind down the Ukrainian military with no regard for civilian casualties."
'NUCLEAR SABRE-RATTLING'
And Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said "Putin's nuclear sabre-rattling" has put the West on notice.
Ms Haines told lawmakers: "We assess Putin feels aggrieved the West does not give him proper deference, and perceives this as a war he cannot afford to lose.
"But what he might be willing to accept as a victory may change over time."
Mr Burns said Putin's circle of close advisors is getting "narrower and narrower".
And top US diplomat also weighed in to label Russia's president an "obsessed" paranoid leader who has created a "bed of lies".
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, told Congress in a separate hearing: "Over the years, President Putin's imperial ambition has grown and he is dissatisfied with the last 30 years of Russian history."
She said Putin has longed "to be the guy that helps recreate the Soviet Union".
The latest senior Russian commander to die is Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, who was killed in fighting outside Ukraine's second city Kharkiv.
Gerasimov was awarded a medal for "capturing" the disputed province of Crimea in 2014, and also received medals after leading troops in Syria and in the second Chechen war.
Three other top commanders have were killed in recent fighting in Ukraine.
Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Safronov, who led a Marine brigade, died along with Lieutenant Colonel Denis Glebov and Colonel Konstantin Zizevsky, who led air assault troops.
Safronov and Glebov were killed when Ukrainian forces have recaptured the city of Chuhuiv, while Zizevsky was killed at in the south of Ukraine.
Their deaths come after those of other senior Russian commanders, including two other generals.
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Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky was killed by a Ukrainian sniper during the fighting for Hostomel Airfield about 30 miles outside the capital Kyiv.
And General Magomed Tushaev died when his Chechen special forces column, including 56 tanks, was obliterated near Hostomel, north-east of the city.
