Russia is unlikely to use its tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine, according to the country's ambassador to Britain.
Andrei Kelin said that due to Russia's military rules, nuclear weapons are under strict provision and not used for conflicts such as Ukraine.
Putin put his nuclear forces on high alert three months ago in a move many considered to be a warning after criticising Nato and the West, the BBC reports.
Russian ambassador says Putin WON'T use nuclear weapons in Ukraine https://t.co/GBDZcqTnX8
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) May 29, 2022
At the time, Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace described it as a diversion tactic away from the failures of its delayed invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is thought to have around 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons.
Tactical nuclear weapons can travel short distances, unlike 'strategic' nuclear weapons which can go farther and are much more closely linked to the prospect of nuclear war.
Ambassador Kelin has denied Russia shelled civilians in Ukraine and insists claims of war crimes in Bucha are 'a fabrication'.
He added: 'The mayor of Bucha in his initial statement has confirmed that Russian troops has left, everything is clean and calm, the town in a normal state.
'Nothing is happening, no bodies are on the street. But next, after it has been done - but anyway...
'In our view it is a fabrication. It is used just to interrupt negotiations," the ambassador replied.'
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has previously insisted pictures of bodies strewn in the streets of Bucha were 'staged' - a claim contradicted by numerous eyewitnesses.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
