The haunting specter of World War 3 raised once again when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia’s nuclear weapons would be tested today as part of Victory Day in Russia , which marks the capitulation of the Nazis to the Soviet Union on May 9, 1945 to end World War II. That war cost 26 million Soviet lives, more than any other country.
In a related report by The Inquisitr , shortly after the Ukraine crisis started Russia’s nuclear weapons were actually test fired as a show of force . An unarmed ICBM was sent streaking toward a target site just as Putin blamed President Obama and America for causing the entire situation by interfering in Ukraine. Russian state TV also warned that Russia’s nuclear weapons could reduce the United States to “radioactive ash” if the Western allies don’t back down. Some journalists have already declared that World War 3 unofficially started already based upon the fact that pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine began openly fighting with the Ukrainian military , with helicopters being shot down and allegations of Russian special forces being involved in some attacks . Although Moscow denies it, the United States claims the forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic are armed with Russian weapons and uniforms, and some fear that Putin will use a civil war triggered by Ukraine’s autonomy vote as an excuse to invade as part of a “peacekeeping” operation.
Despite all the provocations coming from Russia, their government claims a CIA plot backed by President Obama is manipulating Ukraine and they’ve already threatened a military response if they believe their interests are at risk:
“If we are attacked, we would certainly respond. If our interests, our legitimate interests, the interests of Russians have been attacked directly, like they were in South Ossetia for example, I do not see any other way but to respond in accordance with international law. Russian citizens being attacked is an attack against the Russian Federation.”
Earlier today, Vladimir Putin added to the tensions by claiming Russia’s nuclear weapons test will occur:
“Today on the eve of the May 9th holiday, Victory Day, we are conducting a test of the readiness of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. All the branches of the armed forces will be involved across the entire territory of the country, including the nuclear deterrence forces.”
These military maneuvers were supposedly scheduled in advance and will include a nuclear weapons test launch from a submarine using unarmed ballistic missiles. They will also run a simulation of what would happen if Russia were to be attacked by an enemy with a nuclear weapon.
This announcement came only days after the Department for Security and Disarmament at Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed they would not give up their nuclear weapons as defined by previous treaties between the United States and Russia. Director Mikhail Ulyanov claims the nuclear disarmament must proceed in slower stages and might have been referring to the Ukraine crisis when he said:
“Representatives of many non-nuclear states have voiced disapproval of the pace of nuclear disarmament. Some of them are rather radically minded and suggested a ban on nuclear weapons but we are not ready for that…. Now the situation is unfavorable if for no other reason than missile defense; conditions are far from being favorable for arrangements on new moves.”
Fortunately, not everyone in Russia’s military thinks that increasing the risk of World War 3 is a good idea. Russia’s deputy minister of defense, Anatoly Antonov, also released a statement yesterday that seemed to contradict what Putin announced:
“Under the conditions of the continuing crisis in Ukraine, such acts at the very least do not promote the de-escalation of tensions in Ukraine.”
Do you fear the possibility of World War 3 and Russia’s nuclear weapons actually being used? Or do you think Vladimir Putin is starting Cold War 2 ? Or perhaps you believe the saber rattling is just global politics as usual and there’s no reason to be alarmed?