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Last night, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to strengthen the vigilance posture of his nuclear-weapon unit.
He even took out a nuclear card in response to economic sanctions, criticizing the West for being irresponsible.
Reporter Park Won-kyung reports.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a televised speech on the 27th local time, ordering the Defense Minister and others to launch a special combat mission for the nuclear deterrent force.
The Nuclear Deterrence Unit is an army in charge of nuclear weapons, including the Russian strategic rocket force that operates intercontinental ballistic missiles.
[Putin/Russian President: Western countries are engaging in unfriendly actions toward Russia in the economic field.]
The United States and NATO, etc. criticized Putin's instructions as irresponsible and dangerous, suggesting the possibility of further sanctions.
Ukraine has said it will not succumb to Putin's actions ahead of the summit between the two countries.
[Dmitro Kuleva/Ukrainian Foreign Minister: Putin's orders are an attempt to increase the stakes and put additional pressure on the Ukrainian delegation.
We will not succumb to this pressure.]
Meanwhile, Russian missile attacks have reportedly damaged nuclear waste depots in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev and the second city of Kharkov.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was investigating the extent of the damage to the nuclear facility, but said no radiation leaks were reported.
The IAEA is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the 2nd of next month to discuss the safety issue of Ukraine's nuclear facilities.