The chilling threat comes as tensions between Russia and the West soar to alarming levels.
The threat of Vladimir Putin unleashing nuclear weapons “is not a scare tactic it is reality,” warned his close henchman and ex-president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev. If the Kremlin fails to win the war in Ukraine “on our terms,” this will trigger World War Three, he claimed.
Medvedev, leader of the main pro-Putin political party United Russia, and deputy head of the powerful Kremlin security council, insisted the West should take seriously Moscow’s regular threats about nuclear war. “These are not hints,” he said in an interview with Vedomosti newspaper. “Everyone needs to understand nuclear weapons could be used in certain circumstances.” He continued: “This is not a scare tactic – it is reality. Russia’s nuclear doctrine under which our country reserves the right to use such weapons in the event of a threat to our state’s security can hardly be described as a mere hint….
Vladimir Putin’s close ally Dmitry Medvedev has issued a chilling nuclear weapons warning (Image: GETTY)
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Medvedev has hinted that Russia could use nuclear weapons (Image: Getty)
“The list of military threats requiring nuclear deterrence measures has also been expanded.”
Aggression against Russia or ally Belarus by a non-nuclear state, such as Ukraine, backed by a nuclear power, for example Britain, “is viewed as a joint attack on our countries” and could lead to a nuclear response.
“We have every right to respond to a critical threat to our sovereignty. The final decision will rest with the Head of State (Putin).”
Medvedev accused Western leaders of a “Neanderthal mindset and abysmal ignorance”, and warned they were “trying to push the world to the brink of nuclear apocalypse”.
“Such a conflict would obliterate the entire history of human civilisation and plunge it back into a primitive state – assuming any of the planet’s billions of people survived at all.”
Asked about the threat of WW3, he claimed this could be triggered by Putin facing to “secure an end to the conflict on our terms”.
Medvedev said the final decision on whether Russia will use nuclear weapons lies with Putin (Image: Getty)
Medvedev said: “It must end on our terms to prevent any possibility of it recurring in the future or escalating into a global conflict.”
Ukraine launched an overnight drone strike on Russia’s main resort city of Sochi, using aerial and sea drones, as several members of Vladimir Putin’s elite were reportedly staying in the area.
The port in Sochi which is just two miles from Putin’s luxury official Sochi palace Bocharov Ruchey triggered embankment fires and disrupted a nighttime concert.
Eight people were injuried with five taken to hospital. Volodymyr Zelensky said from an official visit to Canada: “Russia continues its terror against Ukraine every day. And every day it receives a just response.”
Seperately, strategic Caspian Sea port Makhachkala in Dagestan, used to receive Iranian military imports,was struck by Ukraine in fierce long-distance drone attacks.
These strikes came after a record-breaking 2,100-mile military drone strike on Novy Urengoy, Putin’s gas capital, just below the Arctic Circle in Siberia.
Older state pensioners can cut BBC TV Licence bill to £0 in 16 minutes
A TV Licence currently costs £180 per year.
A TV Licence currently costs £180 per year (Image: Getty)
Older state pensioners across the UK can cut their TV Licence bill down to £0 in just 16 minutes if they meet certain criteria.
The annual fee for a TV Licence currently costs £180 and is due to rise again in April. The UK Government agreed that the TV Licence fee would increase in line with inflation for the remaining four years of the Charter period, which runs until the end of 2027, so another hike to bills is looming in early 2027. You need a TV Licence to watch or record programmes on a TV, computer, or other device on any channel or service as they are broadcast – including on-demand BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, as well as live events on streaming services.
While most households must pay the annual £180 fee, it’s possible to get a TV Licence at a discounted rate in some cases and for some older pensioners, this fee can be avoided entirely, effectively cutting bills down to £0 simply thanks to one Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit: Pension Credit.
Pension Credit provides extra money to people who have reached State Pension age and are on a low income, and it is worth £4,300 per year on average, according to the DWP.
The benefit tops up your weekly income to £238 if you’re single, or your joint weekly income to £363.25 if you have a partner, but it also unlocks access to other financial support, too – including a free TV Licence if you’re aged 75 or over.
According to the DWP, it only takes 16 minutes on average to apply for Pension Credit and by doing so, you can unlock thousands of pounds worth of extra financial support.
The DWP said last year: “The online claim form – updated by the Work and Pensions Secretary after listening to the views of pensioners– means it now takes just 16 minutes on average to apply for Pension Credit and be eligible for up to £4,300, with 90 percent of new customers applying using the simple online form, or over the phone.”
If you already get Pension Credit, then you can apply for a free TV Licence when you’re 74, but you’ll need to continue paying for your licence until the end of the month before your 75th birthday. After this, you’ll be covered by your free licence.
Commenting on the perks of claiming the DWP benefit, Sarah Pennells, consumer finance specialist at Royal London, said: “Pension Credit is a valuable benefit because it is a ‘gateway’ benefit. That means, if you’re able to claim it, you may also be able to get help with housing costs (through Council Tax discount and Housing Benefit or Support for Mortgage Interest).
“You’re also eligible for a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over and you may be able to get help with NHS dental treatment, prescriptions and transport costs. If you’re entitled to these benefits, the state help you get could be very valuable and that could make a real difference to your finances.
For those who don’t meet the eligibility criteria for Pension Credit, there are other ways to reduce your TV Licence bill, or avoid the fee entirely.
If you no longer watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, or use BBC iPlayer, it may be worth cancelling your TV Licence and in some cases, you could be eligible for a refund if, before your licence expires, you won’t be doing any of the following:
- watching TV on any channel, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, U&Dave and international channels
- watching TV on pay TV services, like Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV
- watching live TV on streaming services, like YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
- using BBC iPlayer
This includes recording and downloading programmes on any device. But if you still need your TV Licence there are other ways to reduce the cost.
If you live in a residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation, then you may be entitled to a reduced fee TV Licence, and if you’re blind (severely sight impaired) and can provide the appropriate evidence, you can apply for a 50% discount on your TV Licence. But if neither of these apply then you’ll have to pay for a TV Licence at the full rate.
TV licence: A look at reforms made to fee in 2022
If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria for Pension Credit or qualify for a reduced fee TV Licence, then there are still a few options to save money.
TV licences are per household, not per person, so if you live in a house with several people, you don’t all need to have one and could all chip in to share the cost of one licence. Instead, you can share a TV Licence among the whole household if you watch TV in a single shared area, or have a joint tenancy agreement. But if you have separate tenancy agreements and watch TV in your own room, then you will need to pay for your own.
You also don’t need a TV Licence to watch streaming services, such as Netflix and Disney Plus, on-demand TV through services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video, videos on websites such as YouTube, or DVDs and Blu-rays.
So if you’re happy to just stick to watching any of these, and not watch or record any live TV or BBC iPlayer, you can save yourself £180 per year. But if you do watch or record live TV without a TV Licence, then you can be issued a fine of up to £1,000.