Updated Russian military doctrine has no preemptive nuclear strike provision - source
MOSCOW. Dec 10 (Interfax-AVN) - A new edition of the Russian military doctrine does not contain a preemptive nuclear strike provision but it clearly defines circumstances under which strategic nuclear forces can be used, a source involved in the drafting of the document told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday.
"The updated version of the military doctrine will not have a provision regarding a possible preemptive nuclear strike on a potential enemy. Article 18 of this document clearly defines conditions for the use of strategic armaments of the Russian nuclear triad. That will be possible if the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation are threatened with destruction," he said.
"Persistent proposals have been made [during expert discussions] to include a provision allowing for the possibility of nuclear strikes on the territory of a potential aggressor or a group of countries in the updated military doctrine," the source noted.