Putin threatened to use Russia's entire arsenal in the event of an attack on Kaliningrad

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow could raise the question of using all available weapons in the event of a direct attack on the Kaliningrad region or any other territory of the Russian Federation.

Putin made the statement on October 1 during a plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Club, Russian news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti reported.

According to the Russian president, in the event of a direct attack on Russian territory, the question of using all available Russian arsenal would arise 'inevitably and immediately'.

'If it comes to a direct attack on the Russian Federation, in this case meaning Kaliningrad, perhaps other territories as well, of course, the issue of the Russian Federation using all weapons at our country's disposal will inevitably and immediately appear on the agenda', — Putin said.

At the same time, Putin stressed separately that the documents sent by the Russian Foreign Ministry to NATO countries, which were discussed during the session, allegedly do not mention the direct use of nuclear weapons. According to his version, it is about the possibility of Russia using 'all forces and means', and Moscow will decide independently on the specific nature of the response.

However, the day before, Russia sent NATO a diplomatic document in which it explicitly permitted the use of nuclear weapons in the event of an attempt to isolate the Kaliningrad region. In the document, whose contents were published by international media, Moscow stated its readiness to use 'the entire available arsenal', including nuclear weapons.

The Russian side claims to have information about NATO allegedly preparing an air and sea blockade of the Kaliningrad region. The Alliance has not publicly confirmed such plans.

NATO rejected Russian accusations, stating that the Alliance is defensive in nature and its activities do not pose a threat to Russian territory. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on September 30 called on Moscow to stop 'irresponsible nuclear rhetoric'.

'We are a defensive alliance. Stop the nuclear threats. They are completely inappropriate and do not help the situation', — Rutte said while commenting on the Russian appeal.

He also noted that he does not consider a scenario in which Russia could defeat NATO in a direct military confrontation to be realistic, but stressed that the Alliance deemed it necessary to officially respond to Moscow's statement.

At Valdai, Putin again asserted that Russia has no plans to attack NATO countries, but at the same time said that in the event of a conflict, Moscow would have to use its 'competitive advantages'. Among them he named Russia's available means of destruction.

The Kaliningrad region is a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, located between Poland and Lithuania — NATO member states. The region hosts significant Russian military forces, including the Baltic Fleet and missile systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Based on materials from: TASS, RIA Novosti, NATO