DEFCON ONE
Putin general who wrote Russia’s ‘Bible of War’ vows nukes will be used in Ukraine – and says it’s ‘inevitable’
A RUSSIAN general who wrote Russia's "war bible" believes it is "inevitable" that nuclear weapons will be used against Ukraine.
Retired commander Major-General Alexander Vladimirov has chillingly warned that Vladimir Putin is just one political decision away from dropping the bomb.
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The veteran wrote Russia's three-volume tome called General Theory of War in 2014 and feels he is seeing his 2,856-page document come to life.
And in a recent interview with journalist Vladislav Shurygin on VK, he believes that only "one thing" is needed to start nuclear destruction.
He said: “For the transition to the use of weapons of mass destruction, only one thing is needed - a political decision by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief [Putin].
“The goals of Russia and the goals of the West are their survival and historical eternity.
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“And this means that in the name of this, all means of armed struggle available to them will be used, including such a tool as their nuclear weapons.”
Vladimirov then followed up that harrowing admission with an equally terrifying warning.
He added: “I am sure that nuclear weapons will be used in this war - inevitably, and from this neither we nor the enemy have anywhere to go.
“The sooner our politicians and leadership realise this, the sooner we start to train troops and the population for this - the more chances we will have for survival, which means victory."
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With reference to the need for training troops, the 78-year-old labels it as "vital" so they have the "ability to wage war" with nuclear weapons.
But Vladimirov has called for Russians to learn key lessons from his tome.
He said: “If you want peace - fight until you win.
“If you want a long and strong peace, bury the hatchet on the territory of the enemy along with him.
“So, we need to be prepared...
“Prepare the Army, the State, the Economy and the population of the country.”
He spoke as Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu claimed Russia was inflicting a huge toll on Ukraine in the war, despite Western aid for Kyiv.
“During the last month alone 34 command points of the Ukrainian army were destroyed,” he said.
“From the start of the so-called counteroffensive the enemy’s losses exceeded 66,000 men and 7,600 ammunition units…
“During the last month Russia downed 159 [Ukrainian] HIMARS missiles, 13 cruise missiles and over a 1,000 drones.”
It was reported today that Putin's general has been hospitalised after being handed a mobile device armed with explosives.
The handheld device blew up whilst Uri Afanasevskii was at home and it is being treated as an assassination attempt.
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Putin himself, however, is also thought to be struggling with his health after documents surrounding his well being were leaked.
This, along with public appearances, has sparked rumours that he may be suffering from pancreatic and thyroid cancer as well as Parkinson's.
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