Russia has reportedly mobilised nuclear-capable missiles to its border with NATO member Finland, as fears of Vladimir Putin escalating conflict in the region soar.
According to Russian media, a missile brigade has been formed near the new NATO member, equipped with the Iskander-M ballistic missiles – capable of firing conventional and nuclear warheads.
The newspaper Izvestia, citing Russian Ministry of Defense sources, reported that the systems are indispensable for Russia’s Karelia Republic of the Leningrad Military District (LMD) – formed after Finland joined NATO.
The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance called the Iskander-M “the weapon of choice for Moscow when making threats throughout Europe”.
The think tank Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said they provided Russia with a “significant capability” over Ukraine, specifically in tactical-operation strikes.
The RUSI added: “Their role in supporting Russia’s non-strategic nuclear arsenal means that they are not only a war-shaping capability but also potentially critical to strategies for war termination.”
It claimed the missiles will be used “through either targeting of critical infrastructure across Europe with conventional precision strikes or the threat of nonstrategic nuclear weapons use.”
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda also warned of the nuclear threat from Russia and any retaliation that might be necessary to “strengthen the security” of NATO.
He said: “If our allies decide to deploy nuclear weapons as part of nuclear sharing also on our territory to strengthen the security of NATO’s eastern flank, we are ready for it.”
