WAR IN UKRAINE

Putin ‘orders nuclear military train to Ukraine’

Analysts suggest that President Putin is preparing for a “significant escalation” of the conflict in Ukraine
Analysts suggest that President Putin is preparing for a “significant escalation” of the conflict in Ukraine
SPUTNIK/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/KREMLIN VIA REUTERS

President Putin is set to demonstrate his willingness to use weapons of mass destruction with a nuclear test on Ukraine’s borders, Nato is believed to have warned its members.

The Kremlin has been signalling its readiness for a significant escalation as Russia loses ground on the battlefield. Fears over Putin’s earlier hints that he might resort to such tactics heightened yesterday with claims that a train operated by the secretive nuclear division was destined for Ukraine.

Konrad Muzyka, a Poland-based defence analyst, said the train, spotted in central Russia, was linked to the 12th main directorate of the Russian ministry of defence and that it was “responsible for nuclear munitions, their storage, maintenance, transport, and issuance to units”.

The sight of the military supply train on the move is seen as a signal to the West of the Kremlin’s willingness to consider all options
The sight of the military supply train on the move is seen as a signal to the West of the Kremlin’s willingness to consider all options

A senior defence source, however, said