Russia’s top military chief, General Yury Baluevsky said yesterday that Russia could use nuclear weapons to defend itself.

Speaking at a conference at the Academy of Military Sciences in Moscow, General Yuri Baluyevsky said that,
to protect Russia’s interests, military force can and must be used when all else fails.

“We have no plans to attack anyone, but we consider it necessary that all our partners in the international community clearly understand that for the defence of our sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Russia and its allies, the armed forces will be employed, including preventively the use of nuclear weapons,” General Yury Baluevsky said.

Top general comments come as tensions remain high between NATO and Russia over the organisation’s expansion into former Soviet republics and strained relations with the U.S. over the proposed shield.