Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has threatened to use ballistic missiles and warned of an "apocalypse" should there be a direct conflict between NATO and Moscow.
The deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia and ally of President Vladimir Putin wrote on Telegram that there had been "dangerous chatter" on the chances of war between Moscow and NATO among political leaders of the bloc, despite Russia "repeatedly" saying it had no plans for such a conflict.
He said that the aim of such talk was to justify the huge spending on Ukraine by its allies to produce more tanks, shells, drones and other weapons.
He said the military capabilities of the alliance whose military budget is over one and a half trillion dollars would require an "asymmetric" response from Moscow should hostilities between the sides take place.
"Ballistic and cruise missiles with special warheads will be used to protect the territorial integrity of our country," he said. "Due to the incomparability of our military potentials, we simply will have no choice.
"This is based on our doctrinal military documents and is well known to everyone," wrote Medvedev in the post on Wednesday. "This is the notorious Apocalypse, the end of everything."
"Therefore, Western politicians should tell their voters the bitter truth, and not treat them as brainless idiots," he wrote. "Explain to them what will really happen, and not repeat the false mantra about readiness for war with Russia."
Newsweek has contacted NATO via email for comment.
Within three hours, Medvedev's post had received over 648,000 views on Telegram and 340,000 views on X (formerly Twitter).
Medvedev was head of state between 2008 and 2012. Over the course of the war in Ukraine he has posted hawkish statements on his Telegram channel and issued numerous threats against the West.
Medvedev has repeatedly warned nuclear war could be the consequence of the conflict in Ukraine and this topic is regularly discussed on Russian state TV.
Putin said in September 2022 that Moscow would use nuclear weapons to defend its "territorial integrity."
Citing the Russian Education Ministry, the business newspaper Kommersant reported on Tuesday that high-school students will be educated about nuclear war as part of the national curriculum.
They will learn about "the combat properties and damaging effects of weapons of mass destruction, as well as methods of protection against them," the Russian publication added.
Update 02/7/24, 7:30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with further information.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Brendan Cole is a Newsweek Senior News Reporter based in London, UK. His focus is Russia and Ukraine, in particular ... Read more
