“We are not planning to invade anyone, but believe it’s necessary that our partners should understand and nobody should have any doubt to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation and its allies armed forces will be used, including preventive nuclear strikes as has been laid down in the military doctrine,” Chief of the Russian General Staff, Army General Yuri Baluyevsky declared.

Extreme measure
Speaking at a conference here in the Academy of Military Sciences, Baluyevsky underscored that the military might “could be and must” be used to demonstrate the resolution of the country’s leadership to defend her interests, as an extreme measure, when all other means prove ineffective.

Russia is under military pressure due to the expansion of the United States-led NATO alliance into the former Soviet territory and Washington’s plans to deploy elements of its missile shield in Czech Republic and Poland, which Moscow sees as an attempt to cripple its second retaliatory strike capability.

Security threat
Baluyevsky also named international terrorism and illegal narcotics trade among the threats to Russia’s national security and called for adopting a comprehensive defence policy.