PARANOID Putin has ordered tactical nuclear weapons testing as Russia directly warns the West to back-off as fears of an all-out-war with Nato surge.
Russia's latest threat comes as the Kremlin tells Western officials if they continue to support Ukraine then a "worldwide catastrophe" will break out as even those in Downing Street were told they can't hide anymore.
Putin told his Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to prepare military drills “in order to increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to fulfil combat missions”, it has been reported.
This is believed to involve land, air and sea practice and preparations, say the defence ministry.
The drills are thought to be linked to the US, UK and France in particular after French President Emmanuel Macron declared he will send his troops to Ukraine if Putin breaks through the frontline.
If France was to send their troops into Ukraine's backyard then it could cause major issues.
The French would prove to be the first set of troops with Nato links to step up to Putin's war machine and go head-to-head with the Russian army.
Nato has consistently wanted to keep the idea of an escalation of a larger conflict minimal.
The reason why it could cause a potential major issue is as Article 5 in Nato's handbook states that all members are obliged to defend each other if there is an attack.
Russia are thought to be well aware that if they attack and kill French troops then it could draw in UK, German and even US troops into the battle.
Ukraine have also been using Storm Shadow missiles provided to them by Nato allies in the war with Russia.
A raging Putin has previously slammed some of Lord David Cameron's comments as "dangerous and worrying" after he said British missiles could be used to blitz Russian territory.
Moscow even summoned British ambassador Nigel Casey to the Russian Foreign Ministry today, according to state media.
The French ambassador Pierre Lévy was also seen.
British sources denied it was an official summons for Casey, and said the session was to cover bilateral issues.
Top Kremlin crony and ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said the fresh tests should be taken as a real threat.
Medvedev accused Western leaders of being "scoundrels" before slamming them "for sending their troops to a non-existent country".
He pinpointed the US, France and the UK of being involved as well as "individual madmen from the Baltic states and Poland".
A world catastrophe will come... But the current infantile morons who have seized power in the West do not want to understand
Dmitry Medvedev
It was labelled as a "cynical calculation for political dividends and a total degradation of the ruling class in the West".
He warned Russia will not hesitate to fight against whoever they need to and will do so in any country.
Medvedev claimed his men will "have to respond" if troops are sent into Ukraine and clearly stated they will not look to just kill the foreign troops but also seek revenge on the countries who sent them.
His chilling speech ended with him saying: “A world catastrophe will come... But the current infantile morons who have seized power in the West do not want to understand.
“None of them will be able to hide either on Capitol Hill, or in the Elysee Palace, or in 10 Downing Street."
Russia's defence ministry spoke about the missile testing and agreed with Medvedev about why Russia was gearing up for potential strikes.
They said: “The exercise is aimed at maintaining the readiness of the personnel and equipment of units for the combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons."
They have been done "in order to respond to and unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian State".
The ministry accused Western officials of making "provocative statements and threats" against them.
The nuclear weapons being tested have devastating consequences for those that they hit but don't cause widespread destruction and radioactive fallout like typical nukes.
Putin and the Kremlin value these nukes as some of the best items in their war arsenal.
NATO is headed for a nuclear showdown with the west as Nato could be considering moving nukes to Putin's doorstep.
Below is a timeline of some of the thinly veiled threats the Kremlin has made against the West since invading Ukraine two years ago.
Feb 24, 2022 - Vladimir Putin: “No matter who tries to stand in our way or all the more so create threats for our country and our people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history."
March 26, 2022 - Putin crony Dmitry Medvedev: “We have a special document on nuclear deterrence. This document clearly indicates the grounds on which the Russian Federation is entitled to use nuclear weapons.
"[This includes] when an act of aggression is committed against Russia and its allies."
April 20, 2022 - Vladimir Putin: “[The new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads] will force all who are trying to threaten our country in the heat of frenzied, aggressive rhetoric to think twice."
Feb 29, 2024 - Vladimir Putin: “They must understand that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory...
"All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilisation. Don’t they get that?”
March 12, 2024 - Vladimir Putin declared that weapons like nukes "exist in order to use them".
May, 2, 2024- French President Emmanuel Macron declares he will send his countries troops to Ukraine if Putin breaks through the frontline.
A chilling nuclear war simulator has also revealed how a Russian nuclear strike could trigger a global conflict - killing 35 million people in just a matter of hours.
The model predicts a catastrophic war escalating from an initial Russian nuclear strike, which quickly draws in other powers.
Known as "Plan A", the four-minute animation aims to highlight the horrific potential consequences of conflict between Russia and NATO countries as all nations would fire strikes against one another.
The model predicts that almost 35 million people would die within hours - many of those in the first 45 minutes.
The trigger-happy tyrant has even started talking about how he could deploy nukes in space, saying that Russia can be "proud" of its work on a "nuclear power plant... for operation in space".
A bombshell warning from US intelligence in February suggested Vlad could be hoping to arm his existing anti-satellite weapon with nukes and launch it into space.
Last year, Putin was said to be readying a deadly 20,000mph "meteorite" hypersonic missile for combat
A Russian propagandist has previously warned Putin will sink Britain under a nuclear tidal wave if Nato ever sends troops to Ukraine.
Top Putin crony Dmitry Kiselyov warned that any bid by the West to "inflict a strategic defeat on Russia” would result in Armageddon.
Europe was also said to be gearing up to forge a bubble of nuclear protection from Russia made up of 300 French ballistic missiles.
Macron suggested the submarine-launched warheads are fanned across the continent to shore up collective defence regardless of Nato allegiances.
It comes after PM Rishi Sunak jetted off to Poland along with Nato chief Yens Stoltenberg for urgent security talks.
Sunak seized the moment to pledge to raise the UK's defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 as he said Britain was on a "war footing".
It marks the biggest defence boost in a generation with a cash injection of £75billion across the next six years.
Sunak hailed it as the “biggest strengthening of national defence in a generation” to combat a growing axis of evil between Russia, Iran, China and North Korea.
A record £500million was earmarked for President Zelensky’s war effort, as the PM warned Putin will not stop at the Polish border should the despot win in Ukraine.
The power-package will include further ammunition, air defence and drones and take the UK’s support for Kyiv to £3billion this financial year.
It comes as British-made bombs are set to be used by US fighter jets under plans to boost Ukraine’s air force.
The UK has pledged to arm the jets with Paveway IV bombs that weigh 500lb and cost £30,000 each.
The weapons are part of a package of 1,600 bombs and missiles announced by Britain last week.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the F-16 deal as a “breakthrough moment” in the war against Russia.
A raging Putin slammed Lord Cameron's comments as "dangerous and worrying" after he said British missiles could be used to blitz Russian territory.
