Russia is set to modify its nuclear weapons doctrine in response to what it perceives as Western escalation in the Ukraine conflict, according to statements by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, as reported by state media on Sunday. The current nuclear policy, outlined in a 2020 decree by President Vladimir Putin, allows for the use of nuclear weapons in the event of a nuclear attack or a conventional assault that threatens the state’s existence. Some military analysts in Russia have advocated for lowering the threshold for nuclear use to deter Western adversaries. Ryabkov’s recent remarks were the most explicit indication yet that changes are forthcoming. “The work is at an advanced stage, and there is a clear intent to make corrections,” Ryabkov was quoted by the state news agency Tass. He added that the decision is “connected with the escalation course of our Western adversaries” in relation to the Ukraine war.
In response to Russian airstrikes on Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft were mobilized early Monday to secure Polish airspace, as confirmed by the Operational Command of the Polish armed forces. The Command noted that increased noise levels could be expected in southeastern Poland, which borders Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukraine conducted one of its largest drone attacks on Russia overnight on Sunday, with videos showing explosions and fires at power stations and refineries, including in Moscow. Russia’s defense ministry downplayed the strikes, claiming to have intercepted and destroyed 158 unmanned aerial vehicles across 15 regions.
Footage on Telegram suggested that some Ukrainian drones struck deep inside Russia, with at least one hitting an oil refinery in Moscow’s southeastern Kapotnya district. Additional drones targeted a thermal power station in the Tver region, north of Moscow, with an explosion reported at the Konakovo station, one of Russia’s largest, resulting in an orange fireball engulfing several transformers.
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In eastern Ukraine, where the fiercest fighting is ongoing, Russian forces continued their advance towards Pokrovsk, a crucial military and transport hub. On Sunday, Russia’s defense ministry announced the capture of two more settlements in the Donetsk region, including Ptyche, located just 21km southeast of Pokrovsk. The ministry stated that Russian troops are “continuing to advance deep into enemy defenses.” Ukrainian officials reported that Russian shelling killed at least three people and wounded nine others in Kurakhove, a town 35 km south of Pokrovsk.
In Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, at least 47 people, including five children, were injured on Sunday after Russian missiles struck a shopping mall and an events complex. This prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to renew his calls for allies to allow Kyiv to strike deeper into enemy territory with Western-supplied missiles, aiming to reduce the military threat posed by Russia.
Additionally, a Ukrainian helicopter on a military training flight crashed on Sunday, killing both crew members. The Kharkiv Air Force University confirmed the incident on Facebook, stating that investigators and defense ministry officials are working to determine the cause of the crash, with further details pending.
In Russia’s southern Belgorod region, Ukrainian forces shelled several areas on Sunday, injuring 11 people, including two children who were seriously wounded, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. The children are undergoing surgery for severe injuries, including one with extensive leg wounds, as reported by Gladkov on the Telegram messaging app.
