Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has highlighted the country’s reliance on nuclear weapons as a deterrent against security threats.

Amidst heightened tensions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, various Russian officials have consistently brought up the nation’s nuclear arsenal. In a recent interview for the state-run magazine “The International Affairs,” Lavrov remarked, “The possession of nuclear arms is today the only possible response to some of the significant external threats to the security of our country.” He further cautioned the US and NATO about the potential consequences of direct military confrontation with a nuclear power, stating the importance of sending “sobering signals to our opponents.”

This escalating rhetoric isn’t limited to Russia. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin, warned of using nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus against any external aggression. NATO, while acknowledging the situation, noted that they’ve observed no changes in Russia’s nuclear posture and hence see no need to adjust their own stance.

Despite the escalating nuclear narrative, the Washington, DC-based Institute for the Study of War perceives this as part of an “information operation” by Russia. They believe this strategy aims to deter Ukraine and its Western supporters without genuine intent to deploy nuclear weapons.