RUSSIA is ready to use nuclear weapons and trigger World War Three if provoked, Putin puppet Dmitry Medvedev has warned.
The warning comes days after Vlad, 72, ordered surprise nuclear drills to ensure they were "ready to unleash Armageddon".
The crony chillingly claims the West are mistaken in believing the dictator would never "cross a certain line".
Medvedev said: "If we are talking about the existence of our state, as the president of our country has repeatedly said, we simply will not have any choice."
He further blasted that the US and West were "wrong" in thinking Putin wouldn't turn to nuclear weapons if NATO sought to inflict a defeat on Russia in the Ukraine war.
The puppet continued: "If the new [US] leader is going to be fiercely dedicated to adding fuel to the fire of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it will be a very bad choice.
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"Because this is the road to hell.
"It's really a road to World War Three.
"Whoever decides to continue the war will be making a very dangerous mistake."
Medvedev, who sits as Putin's number two on the Kremlin’s security council, then goes on to call whoever does a "moron" and that Russia would "simply not have any choice".
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It comes a mere few days after Putin ordered surprise World War Three nuclear drills to ensure they were "ready to unleash Armageddon".
The Kremlin dictator continues to flex the country's nuclear muscle amid spiralling tensions with the West over the war in Ukraine.
Putin has repeatedly threatened to use tactical atomic weapons throughout the war in Ukraine.
The Russian leader said: "Today we are conducting another training session of strategic deterrence forces.
"We will practice the actions of officials to manage the use of nuclear weapons with practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles."
He outlined how he had modernised Russia’s nuclear arsenal with hypersonic alterations.
As he ordered the drills, Putin ominously demanded: "All this is necessary for the effective protection of Russia and our citizens.
"So, let's get to work. Please."
In his TV address, the Russian ruler made a rambling justification for his obsession with nuclear firepower amid the bloody conflict with Ukraine and fears of a new World War.
The Kremlin dictator added: "Let me immediately note that Russia confirms its fundamental position that the use of nuclear weapons is an extreme exceptional measure to ensure state security.
"At the same time, we are well aware that it is the nuclear triad that continues to be a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty and security of our country."
The latest Russian threat to use nuclear weapons comes as Poland builds massive defensive barricades against a Russian invasion or attack.
This is despite Putin’s closest international ally insisting he will not seek to attack NATO states.
Images show the start of massive £2 billion border fortifications dubbed the Eastern Shield against potential Russian aggression.
Poland shares a 377-mile border with Russia and its close ally Belarus.
And Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are also constructing anti-Putin barricades called the Baltic Defence Line fearing a future Russian invasion after the invasion of Ukraine.
Polish premier Donald Tusk said: "The construction of the Eastern Shield has begun. The first works are near the border with Russia."
The project will be completed by 2028.
But Belarus dictator Lukashenko, Putin’s closest ally, ranted against the Polish move.
He said: "No Russia is going to attack Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine through Belarus".
Lukashenko also labelled it as "complete nonsense".
He warned of a severing of relations after which Russia and Belarus would not return to closer ties, saying "we will find other countries with which we will develop cooperation."
He claimed his people live in "paradise", despite his country having among the lowest earnings in Europe after tax and deductions - some £404 a month.
Residents also have to endure stifling censorship, election rigging, and jails full of Lukashenko’s political foes.
Putin has been forced to empty his militarised exclave Baltic region Kaliningrad of troops - and move them to the war zone.
Lithuanian defence minister Laurynas Kaščiūnas said: "If you look at Kaliningrad, which is not far from Lithuania, we consider it a very sensitive place in geopolitical terms.
"If you look at it now, counting the Russian troops in Kaliningrad, you will see it as a completely empty place.
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"Why? Because many forces of the Russian army from Kaliningrad are now deployed in the fight against Ukraine.
"I called this process the demilitarisation of the Kaliningrad region."