Russian lawmaker Andrey Kolesnik has warned that Western support for deep strikes inside Russia risks triggering the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons.
Speaking to Russian news outlet Lenta.ru, the State Duma defense committee member said Western European nations were taking rapid strides toward direct military conflict with Moscow without considering the consequences.
Kolesnik stressed that Western countries had previously publicly approved long-range strikes deep into Russian territory. He said that Western nations were drawing themselves into the conflict through those decisions.
The lawmaker warned that given the dense urban development in Western Europe, leaders there should avoid such escalation. He stated that if massive strikes take place deep inside Russia, Moscow would be forced to use weapons that it would strongly prefer not to deploy.
He added that a situation could arise where Russia would have to use tactical nuclear weapons, even though such a move could bring severe consequences for the entire globe. Kolesnik noted that using tactical nuclear armaments would mark only the beginning of a wider conflict.
Parliamentary role and defense policies
Kolesnik serves on the Defense Committee of the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's Federal Assembly parliament. The 450-seat legislative chamber is responsible for drafting federal laws, approving military budgets, and managing parliamentary oversight of national security policies.
Tactical nuclear weapons are shorter-range nuclear munitions designed for localized battlefield operations rather than the widespread destruction of strategic targets or cities. Their potential deployment is governed by Russian defense guidelines regarding national security threats.
Lenta.ru, the outlet that interviewed Kolesnik, is a prominent Moscow-based digital news agency that routinely covers Russian parliamentary proceedings, government statements, and military affairs.
Diplomatic sanctions and Arctic confrontation
The warning follows earlier statements from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding international relations. Lavrov previously stated that Western countries were attempting to undermine Russian rights in international cooperation through illegitimate economic sanctions.
Lavrov also warned that Western efforts to initiate confrontation in the Arctic region would lead to catastrophic consequences for international security.
Lavrov has served as Russia's foreign minister since 2004, directing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managing Moscow's diplomatic positioning during ongoing international disputes with Western nations.
