With the West’s dramatically increasing military support for Ukraine, including massive weapons shipments and training, Russian leader Vladimir Putin threatened “lightning-fast” retaliatory strikes on any countries that intervene in Ukraine and “create strategic threats for Russia that are unacceptable to us.”
In a speech before Russia’s legislative assembly, Putin added, likely alluding to Russia’s hypersonic missiles:
We have all the tools for this, such that no one can boast now. And we will not brag, we will use them if necessary. And I want everyone to know about it, we have made all the decisions on this matter.
Possibly intending to take that point home, Russia reportedly launched Kalibr supersonic cruise missiles at Ukrainian targets from a diesel-electric submarine in the Black Sea, the first time Russia’s military has reported using submarine strikes against Ukrainian targets.
Putin also optimistically said Russia’s military forces and militias from separatist regions of Ukraine’s Donbas region “are heroically fulfilling their duty” and “all the tasks set, as I said, will be solved.”
Russia has now also extended its “special military operation” in Ukraine well beyond the eastern Donbas saying it will seek “full control” over all of eastern Ukraine.
This will also position its forces to next launch a military campaign into neighboring Moldova in the west, linking up with Russian separatists in Transnistria and effectively cutting Ukraine off from its access to the entire Black Sea.
But NATO nations and other allies have pledged to continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s so-called “special military operation” even as Russia ramps up its offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine.
This outside support is clearly irking the Russian strongman, and this is just the latest Russian threat.
American Military News notes, that:
Russian officials have previously warned that they would strike at supplies flowing into Ukraine. In March, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said “any cargo moving into the Ukrainian territory which we would believe is carrying weapons would be fair game” for Russian military strikes. Earlier this month, Russia sent a formal letter to the U.S., warning that the continued flow of military supplies to Ukraine could result in “unpredictable consequences.”
Lavrov also called the West’s campaign against Russia over its war in Ukraine “a real hybrid war, total war.”
Russia also recently suggested Western support of Ukraine during Russia’s two-month-long invasion could lead to nuclear warfare.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
Paul Crespo is the Managing Editor of American Liberty Defense News. As a Marine Corps officer, he led Marines, served aboard ships in the Pacific and jumped from helicopters and airplanes. He was also a military attaché with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) at U.S. embassies worldwide. He later ran for state and federal office, taught political science, wrote for the editorial board of a major newspaper and had his own radio show. A graduate of Georgetown, London and Cambridge universities, he brings decades of experience and insight to the issues that most threaten our American liberty – at home and from abroad. To read more go to: paulcrespo.com.
Better remember what isoruko Yamamoto said 80 + years ago, mr p. The idea is ALMOST as tantalizing as a liberal progressive being in my sights.
As far as lightening fast goes, if Ukraine is any measure, lightening must have slowed down some. I think if it wasn’t for Putin making ominous threats all the time, the public would be loosing interest. Acquired Short Attention Span or ASAS (I like to pronounce it asses) in most of the west. Other countries just have too much already going on to keep track of Putin’s troubles on a daily basis. Putin should stop trying to blame all of Russia’s problems on somebody else, but it is a commie thing to do that. Can’t be anything wrong with the ideas of Marx or the whole commie thing, can there?
This is what occurs when you have a weak president and a congress and senate directed by DEMOCRATS. Putin knows who he is dealing with and that is scary.
Obama signed the bill to lift the 40 year ban to export US Oil and Gas on December 18, 2015. The CIA Ukraine anti-Russia coup in February 2014 was part of the plan.
After an enraged Russia shut off the pipelines that crossed Ukraine to Europe there was suddenly a huge market for the glut of US fracked gas and oil.
It happened!
……………
November 2015 gas supplies stop
On 25 November 2015 Gazprom halted its exports of Russian natural gas to Ukraine
……………….
First American LNG Shipment for Ukraine Arrives at Polish Port
NOV 21, 2019 BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE
The first American LNG cargo for ultimate delivery to Ukraine has arrived at a terminal in the port of Swinoujscie, Poland. The geopolitically-significant shipment represents the start of an alternative, non-Russian gas supply for Ukrainian consumers. “U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) is coming to Ukraine! Another step in helping Ukraine achieve energy independence,” said the U.S. Embassy in Kiev in a twitter post.
Well, Putin has taken his shirt off again! What’s next? His diaper?
Someone in Russia needs to take out the B******!
Before he starts WWIII.
Based on the results of Russia’s “lighting fast strike” in Ukraine, this appears to me to be a bluff. If he opens up a new front like Hitler and Napoleon it will be a disaster.
Sadly, we are being lead by Biden and his weak Demo members……NATO and all the other nations need to rally around this serpent and destroy and limit their ambitions…..
It’s unlikely that even Putin is stupid enough to send his troops, or rockets, into a NATO country. Surely he knows that there would be a return military action from the west. Unless he really wants to start WWIII, with nuclear weapons, his bluster is all talk for the home folks.