Igor Korotchenko, the chief editor of the National Defense newspaper and a frequent guest on the Russia 1 channel, responded vigorously to comments on Russia’s role in the Ukraine conflict. He expressed his displeasure with remarks made by NATO’s senior member for logistics, Ben Hodges, concerning the potential use of certain weapons against Russia.
Hodges has advocated for supplying Ukraine with all necessary armaments, like the ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems), to reclaim Crimea from Russian control. These weapons could facilitate long-range precision strikes on Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
Korotchenko interpreted Hodges’ comments as implying potential U.S. strikes on Russian Black Sea Fleet bases, troop positions in Crimea, and Russia’s naval installations in Tartus, Syria. He did not view these comments as mere saber-rattling from a retired official but as part of a more extensive information campaign targeting Russian and Western audiences.
Even though the U.S. remains Ukraine’s leading military aid provider, it has consistently steered clear of any direct altercations with Russia. It has not threatened to target the sites Korotchenko mentioned.
However, Korotchenko emphasized discussing the “conditions and limits” concerning deploying tactical nuclear weapons. Sharing his perspective on a clip that Ukrainian internal affairs adviser Anton Gerashchenko later posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), Korotchenko stated, “Our primary message to the Americans should be that we won’t engage in a European war with you.” He continued by saying that any Russian military or civilian infrastructure attacks would lead to a preemptive strike on U.S. soil. This statement coincided with Russia’s announcement of its operational Sarmat missile system, a system capable of reaching U.S. territories.
Gerashchenko’s response to the clip was a cautionary note pointing out Russia’s nuclear threats against the U.S.
In a conversation with Newsweek, Hodges expressed that while Russia’s nuclear threats were concerning, he believed the chance of Russia deploying nuclear weapons was minimal. He said, “Russia’s nuclear arsenal is most effective when not used,” hinting at the deterrent effect of these weapons.
Highlighting the strategic significance of Crimea, Hodges noted that once Ukraine reclaims the region, it will mark the end of the conflict. He believes that for Ukraine to be secure and economically stable, the Russian occupation of Crimea must end.
