NUKE FEAR
Terrified Susanna Reid reveals Putin’s nuclear threat makes her feel ‘physically sick’ and her heart beat faster
A SOMBRE Susanna Reid told Good Morning Britain viewers today that Vladimir Putin's nuclear threat made her feel physically sick.
Yesterday the Russian President put his nuclear forces on high alert after warning the West "may face the greatest consequences in history".
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Reflecting on his chilling words, Susanna said: "I don't know about you, and I'm sure everyone felt the same way, there was a moment yesterday when I actually felt physically sick.
"We know President Putin has thousands of nuclear warheads and yesterday he ordered Russia's nuclear deterrent forces to be put on high alert.
"Even as I say it I can feel my heart beating just that little bit faster. The world is alarmed as soon as someone who is capable of doing what he's doing suggests a nuclear threat is a possibility."
Her co-star Adil Ray said it was a "turning point" and said there was a palpable sense of fear. He branded Putin's attempt to spread fear through the threat as "vile".
The discussion was followed by an emotional interview with Ukrainian doctors Kateryna and Oleksandr who have remained in the small city of Obukhiv to help the war effort.
Overnight some of their friends were killed by Russian forces, bringing Oleksandr to tears.
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Kateryna said of Putin: "He wants to be like Hitler, I think. If he can remember how Hitler ended, shot down in a bomb shelter.
"He needs to stop because we will fight to the end."
The Russian tyrant is said to be "furious" he's not been able to subdue Ukraine and lashed out at NATO for its "unfriendly measures" he says forced him into the chilling nuclear gamble.
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The move means Putin has ordered the world's largest stockpile of nuclear warheads prepared for launch readiness.
That raises the terrifying possibility the crisis and a miscalculation could spill over into nuclear war.
In an address on state TV, Putin claimed aggressive statements by NATO leaders and economic sanctions against Moscow have forced his hand.
He said "not only do Western countries take unfriendly measures" such as "illegal sanctions" but "top officials of leading NATO countries allow themselves to make aggressive statements with regards to our country".
Putin said he has now ordered his military command to put Russia's deterrence forces - a reference to units which include nuclear arms - on high alert.
"I order the defence minister and the chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces to put the deterrence forces of the Russian army into a special mode of combat service," Putin said.
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Ahead of his invasion of Ukraine, Putin chillingly warned Russia is "today one of the most powerful nuclear powers".
"To anyone who would consider interfering from outside - if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history," he said.
In response, the US rejected Putin's claims and its Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called his move "unacceptable".
"It means that President Putin is continuing to escalate this war in a manner that is totally unacceptable and we have to continue to stem his actions in the strongest possible way," she said.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Putin's response was familiar and "we've seen him do this time and time again".
"At no point has Russia been under threat from Nato, has Russia been under threat from Ukraine," she said.
"This is all a pattern from President Putin and we're going to stand up to it."
NATO Secretary General condemned what he said was Putin's "dangerous rhetoric" adding his behaviour was "irresponsible".
A top EU official has said the bloc will close its airspace to Russian airlines, fund arms supplies to Ukraine and ban pro-Kremlin media.
The move has left the world scrambling to decipher what Putin's move signifies.
Both Russia and the United States typically have land and submarine-based nuclear forces on alert and prepared for combat at all times.
But nuclear capable bombers and other aircraft are not.
Russia’s nuclear doctrine was updated in 2020 allows for first-strike attacks if it has “reliable information” about the launch of ballistic missiles targeting its territory.
Pavel Podvig, a Geneva-based analyst and head of the Russian Nuclear Forces project, it was “hard to tell” what the order meant but could be “preliminary command.”
While it “makes a retaliatory strike possible but it “does not mean preparation for a first strike”.
He added that doesn't appear to include bombers being loaded with weapons and taking off.
VLAD'S GAMBLE
A UN spokesman said the idea of a nuclear war was unimaginable.
Stephane Dujarric said "The mere idea of a nuclear conflict is simply inconceivable."
The former chief of the Royal Navy, Lord West told The Sun one "miscalculation" could spark a war in Europe - which could spiral into a world war involving the use of nuclear weapons.
The battle for Ukraine is continuing to rage but Russian forces faltering, worrying new evidence has emerged about how much blood Putin is willing to shed.
Intelligence chiefs have said he is willing for 50,000 of his troops to be sacrificed in the war,
The grim prediction comes as the Russian Ministry of Health is preparing for a massive medical emergency.
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Officials are looking for doctors with a number of specialisms from across Russia to come forward,
Medical organisations should be be ready "to be promptly involved in activities aimed at saving lives and preserving the health of people in Russia", the ministry has urged.
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