The likelihood that Russia would resort to using a nuclear weapon in its war on Ukraine was “higher than a couple of months ago” and “requires full attention”, a top European spy chief has warned.
Mikk Marran, head of Estonia’s foreign intelligence service, said the use of a nuclear weapon was one of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s “potential scenarios for escalation”. The recent series of calls from Moscow officials alleging Ukraine was preparing a “dirty bomb” — a conventional explosive laced with radioactive material — for use on the battlefield was “out of pattern”, he warned.
“The likelihood of [Russia] going nuclear is certainly more than zero and higher than a couple of months ago,” Marran said in an interview with a small group of journalists.