Putin ‘may lash out with tactical nukes’, warns ex-CIA agent
Vladimir Putin’s “vulnerability” has been uncovered by Thursday’s obvious assassination try, and the Russian President might decide to “lash out” with tactical nuclear weapons if he feels backed right into a nook, a former CIA agent has warned. Robert Baer was talking within the wake of footage which seems to indicate a drone exploding over the Kremlin within the early hours of Wednesday morning, with Russia swiftly pointing the finger of blame at Ukraine – whose personal President, Volodymyr Zelensky, responded by denying all involvement. An announcement on the Kremlin’s web site stated particles from the unmanned aerial autos fell on the grounds of the seat of Russia‘s authorities however no injury was brought about and there have been no accidents nor fatalities.
Mr Baer, now an writer whose most up-to-date e-book, The Fourth Man: The Hunt for a KGB Spy on the Top of the CIA and the Rise of Putin’s Russia, was revealed final 12 months, stays sceptical concerning the Kremlin’s claims that the assault was an try to kill Putin.
He instructed Express.co.uk: “From the multiple recent drone attacks on Russia and Crimea, either a Ukrainian or Russian partisan-backed attack on the Kremlin last night is believable.
“On the other hand, a considered assassination attempt against Putin is far-fetched.
“Either way, hitting the Kremlin is a graphic demonstration of just how vulnerable Putin is.”
Mr Baer rejected the concept that Russia was itself behind the assault as a means of justifying extra airstrikes on Ukraine.
He stated of Putin: “I can’t imagine he’d be so stupid as to be the author of a false flag attack on the Kremlin.
“Who in their right mind want to advertise they’re in trouble?”
Nevertheless, he added: “I do believe Putin backed into a corner will use tactical nukes, or flip over the table by, for instance, destabilising the Baltics. This is what at least some Russians believe.
“I think he’s now backed into the corner, and just as Bush blindly lashed out after 9/11, he will too.
READ MORE: Loud explosions rock Kyiv after Putin’s vow of retaliation
“If he remains rational, he’ll use tactical nukes against a Ukrainian military targets. This is what some Russians who have studied Putin believe.”
Asked about the potential of the 70-year-old being overthrown, Mr Baer stated: “I don’t know enough about the Russian military to offer an opinion whether a classic coup is possible.
“Over the years Russian officers with a backbone have been studiously weeded out.
Speaking yesterday, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov further accused the United States of being behind the alleged attack, saying Moscow was “well aware that the decision on such actions and terrorist attacks is not made in Kyiv, but in Washington”.
He added: “And then Kyiv does what it’s told to do.”
John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council on the White House, dismissed the declare, describing it as “ludicrous”.
Mr Zelensky, on an unannounced go to to Helsinki on Wednesday for talks with the leaders of 5 Nordic nations, likewise denied all involvement, telling news convention: “We don’t attack Putin or Moscow. We fight on our territory. We’re defending our villages and cities.”
The 45-year-old yesterday visited the Netherlands for a shock go to to town which is dwelling to the International Criminal Court, and which has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia has continued to pound Ukraine in current days, and Putin has hinted at the usage of nuclear weapons within the 15 months because the begin of the warfare – though no particular threats have been made.