Ukrainians, without fear in the face of Russia’s now common nuclear threats

Ukrainians see nothing new in the “nuclear blackmail” of Russiaafter the announcement of nuclear exercises tactical moves apparently in response to statements in the West about a possible sending of troops to Ukraine, and they hope it will not lead to further delays in military aid from their allies.

Although the news of Moscow’s new maneuvers has made headlines all over the planet, it has barely had an impact on Ukraine.

The population, exposed every day to missile and drone attacks, has become accustomed to references by Moscow to the possible use of nuclear weapons in reaction to Western aid.

“They’ve been making threats for over two years, but they’ve done nothing, no matter how many of their ‘red lines’ have been crossed.“Olena Mikula, a 35-year-old graphic designer living in Lviv (west), told EFE.

right after Russia attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure with more than 70 drones and missiles, Mikula is more concerned about the impact of potential energy supply disruptions, as well as the pressure Moscow is putting on the front lines.

He hopes that threats to use nuclear weapons will not dent the willingness of Ukraine’s allies to send aid.

“Limiting support will not protect us from threats, nuclear or otherwise. It will simply allow Russia and other terrorist countries to do whatever they want.”, he highlighted.

Accustomed to threats

According to the most recent survey by the Sociological Group ‘Rating’, Ukraine is among the countries in which the perception of the risk of a nuclear attack is lowest.

As of late 2023, less than 20% of Ukrainians believed a nuclear attack was likely.

Making noise with nuclear weapons is “a permanent practice of the Kremlin“Andri Yusov, spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence services, said this Tuesday in reaction to the announcement of the maneuvers.

“There’s nothing particularly new here.”, he said in statements to local media.

President Vladimir Putin and other senior government officials have repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons against Western countries after invading Ukraine in 2022.

“It is the decision of the free world, of the West, how to react to nuclear blackmail. I think your reaction will be appropriate and correct”Yusov said.

Discourage Western support

Russia is trying to dissuade Ukraine’s allies from providing additional military support and allowing kyiv to use Western systems to attack targets on Russian territory, according to the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

“Russia bluffs and uses nuclear threats strategically whenever Ukraine is getting stronger”, wrote in X Timofí Milovánov, president of the kyiv School of Economic Sciences.

According to Milovánov, this tactic has managed to delay deliveries of weapons to kyiv, reinforce the doctrine of “de-escalation” in the United States and scare some European politicians, thereby improving Russian results in Ukraine.

But even though the ‘red lines’ mentioned by Moscow, such as the liberation of Kherson or the attacks on targets in Crimea, have been repeatedly crossed, Russia has done little more than reiterate its threats, he stressed.

It is for this reason that this tactic is much less effective now than in 2022, believes military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko, who sees much calmer reactions from Western societies and critics from countries like China.

Italian President Sergio Matarella stated this Tuesday before the United Nations General Assembly that “a state, no matter how powerful, no matter whether it is equipped with a threatening nuclear arsenal”cannot violate the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of another country.

Ukrainians hope that their allies will become less susceptible to military threats from Russia and increase their military aid to match their verbal promises.

“Russia behaves like a gangster who only understands force. He will take from Ukraine and the world everything they allow him. And the West’s lack of grit has only whetted its appetite.”Mikula stated.