SOYB - Nukes on the table as Ukraine warns that war is returning to Russia

2023-07-31 05:56:24 ET

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow would be forced to use a nuclear weapon if Ukraine's counteroffensive turned out successful and stressed that Russian armed forces are "keeping global nuclear fire from flaring up."

Ukrainian drones on Sunday damaged two office buildings close to the Kremlin and a pig breeding complex on the border, marking the third such strike this week.

"Just imagine the NATO-supported offensive turned out successful, and they took away a part of our land: then we would have to use the nuclear weapon," Medvedev said .

He added that the unmanned underwater vehicle Poseidon - capable of delivering nuclear warheads - "sends its greetings."

While Ukrainian officials didn't acknowledge the attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address : "Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia - to its symbolic centers and military bases, and this is inevitable and absolutely fair."

"But we must be aware that, just as last year, Russian terrorists can still attack our energy sector and critical facilities this winter," he cautioned.

Meanwhile, African leaders met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss resuming the Black Sea grain deal , in the wake of Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure.

However, Putin seems to be preparing for an even bigger - and longer - war. Russian lawmakers raised the upper age limit for mandatory military service to 30 years and banned draftees from leaving the country, thereby increasing its reserve forces.

And while sanctions from the West have taken a toll, the Kremlin appears to be overflowing with cash, given windfall oil and gas profits last year and commodity exporters quickly adapting to evade new restrictions.

More on Russia-Ukraine war

• Russia strikes deals to sell substantial part of crude oil production
• Who's next? Western companies on alert after asset seizures by Russia
• News From Russia Could Be Very Bullish For The WEAT ETF Product
• Impacts Of Russia's Withdrawal From The Black Sea Grain Initiative

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