Desperate Putin warned ‘step back from brink’ of WW3 as he boosts Russia’s ‘nuclear triad’ amid failing Ukraine war
VLADIMIR Putin has vowed to deploy his hypersonic Satan-2 missile and bolster his “nuclear triad” in a chilling threat to the West.
It comes as the head of the UN warned the tyrant to “step back from the brink” of nuclear war on the eve of the first anniversary of his shambolic Ukraine invasion.
In remarks issued by the Kremlin on Thursday, Putin said Russia “will pay increased attention to strengthening the nuclear triad” – referring to nukes based on land, sea and in the air.
Speaking in a video address, mad Vlad said: “We will continue to supply advanced equipment to our troops, including new strike systems, reconnaissance and communications equipment, drones and artillery systems.”
Putin was speaking on Defender of the Fatherland Day, a hangover from the days of the USSR which was formerly known as Red Army Day.
He also warned Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles – a weapon able to carry multiple nuclear warheads – would be deployed this year.
“This year, the first Sarmat missile system launchers with the new heavy missile will be put on combat duty,” he said.
The “superweapon” has the potential to obliterate the United Kingdom 1,600 miles away in just six minutes.
Russia previously boasted that the beast can carry 15 warheads and drop multiple nukes in a single terrifying strike.
And with an operational range of up to 11,180 miles, the deadly missile is reported to have no equivalent in the West in terms of the terror it could unleash.
“We will continue mass production of air-based hypersonic Kinzhal systems and will start mass supplies of sea-based Zircon hypersonic missiles,” Putin said.
The Russian leader is already feared to be readying a launch of the Satan-2 missile to coincide with the Kremlin’s massive offensive planned in days.
There has only been one definitive test flight of a Satan-2 missile – which happened in April 2022.
But officials in remote districts of Kamchatka, Russia, have been warned to be ready for a test launch of the missile between February 15 and February 25.
On the eve of the February 24 anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, tensions have mounted between Putin and Joe Biden.
Putin suspended the New START with the US on Tuesday – accusing it of turning the war into a global conflict by arming Ukraine.
And speaking in Warsaw on Wednesday, Biden warned the suspension of START was a “big mistake”.
After meeting leaders of NATO’s eastern flank, he promised that the US “will defend literally every inch of NATO”.
A senior Russian defence official insisted Moscow would stick to agreed limits on nuclear missiles and keep informing the US about changes in its deployments.
UN chief Antonio Guterres slammed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and called out Putin’s nuclear threats.
“We have heard implicit threats to use nuclear weapons.,” he said.
“The so-called tactical use of nuclear weapons is utterly unacceptable. It is high time to step back from the brink.”
He said the possible consequences of a “spiralling conflict” were a “clear and present danger”.
“War is not the solution. War is the problem,” he added.
“People in Ukraine are suffering enormously. Ukrainians, Russians and people far beyond need peace.”
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers are said to be gearing up for Putin’s new offensive, which will mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainians are bracing for the new assault that is set to include 1,800 tanks, 3,950 armoured vehicles, 400 fighter jets and 300 helicopters incoming from Russia.
Putin is also gathering 2,700 artillery guns and 810 rocket launchers for the “new wave of attacks”, according to .
It comes as Russia readies for military exercises with China in South Africa on Friday and has sent a warship equipped with hypersonic missiles.
Admiral Gorshkov, which set sail from Russia on January 4, carries the Zircon missiles – which have a range of 900km and can travel at several times the speed of sound.
