US, Allies Stepping Up Intelligence Surveillance Of Russian Nuclear Weapons - Reports

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th September, 2022) Intelligence agencies of the United States and its allies are stepping up surveillance of Russian nuclear weapons in the wake of recent statements made by Moscow, the Politico newspaper reported, citing current and former US government officials.

"We're watching it more closely," one of the officials with access to intelligence on Moscow's nuclear forces was quoted by the news outlet in a report published on Tuesday.

The US and its allies have stepped up efforts to collect and analyze data on Russian nuclear units in the air, space and cyberspace, according to the official.

Western intelligence is trying to assess whether it is possible for Russia to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. A spokesperson for the US Strategic Command told Politico that the group was "always on watch and ready to respond if needed," the report said.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered partial mobilization of army reservists to support the Russian military operation in Ukraine and warned that Moscow would use "all means" in the event its territorial integrity is threatened.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that Russia would do everything to prevent hostile neighbors, including Ukraine, from obtaining nuclear weapons. The official believes that NATO will not intervene directly in the Ukraine conflict since US and European politicians "have no intention to die in a nuclear apocalypse."