In a stark warning, a prominent Russian legislator has suggested that Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil using Western-supplied missiles could potentially escalate into a global nuclear conflict. This statement comes in the wake of a significant vote by the European Parliament.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the Chairman of the State Duma since 2016, issued a stern caution regarding potential consequences of such actions. The State Duma, comprising 450 deputies elected for five-year terms, serves as the lower house of Russia's Federal Assembly.
Volodin, known for providing insights into Kremlin thinking, emphasized that Russia would respond forcefully with more advanced weaponry. He specifically mentioned the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, colloquially known as "Satan II". This liquid-fueled, MIRV-equipped super-heavy missile, first tested in April 2022, is capable of carrying up to 15 light nuclear warheads and is intended to replace the R-36M ICBM in Russia's arsenal.
The lawmaker's comments were prompted by a recent European Parliament vote favoring Ukraine's use of Western weapons to target Russian locations. The European Parliament, established in 1952 and currently composed of 705 members, holds its official seat in Strasbourg, France.
Volodin expressed concern that the West may have forgotten the Soviet Union's significant sacrifices during World War II, estimated at 27 million casualties. In a provocative statement, he claimed that the RS-28 Sarmat could reach Strasbourg in just 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has been characterized as the most severe confrontation between Russia and the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. This 13-day standoff in October 1962, involving the deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, is widely regarded as the closest the world has come to intentional nuclear warfare during the Cold War era.
"Russia will give a tough response using more powerful weapons."
This latest development underscores the heightened tensions in the region, with potential global implications. As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains watchful of further developments in this complex geopolitical landscape.