CIA Director Burns Warns Russia Could Use Tactical Nuclear Weapons

CIA Director William Burns speaks during a House Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats, in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 15, 2021. Tasos Katopodis/Pool via Photo: Reuters / POOL  

Reuters: U.S. cannot 'take lightly' threat Russia could use nuclear weapons - CIA chief 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The threat of Russia potentially using tactical or low-yield nuclear weapons in Ukraine cannot be taken lightly, but the CIA has not seen a lot of practical evidence reinforcing that concern, CIA Director William Burns said on Thursday. 

 In a speech at Georgia Tech, Burns referred to the "potential desperation" and military setbacks that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government have suffered since moved forces into Ukraine on Feb. 24. 

For those reasons, "none of us can take lightly the threat posed by a potential resort to tactical nuclear weapons or low-yield nuclear weapons," Burns said. 

That said, despite "rhetorical posturing" by the Kremlin about putting the world's largest nuclear arsenal on high alert, "We haven't seen a lot of practical evidence of the kind of deployments or military dispositions that would reinforce that concern.”  

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Update: CIA director warns Russian threat of tactical nuclear weapons should not be taken "lightly" (CNN).

WNU Editor: At the start of the war my biggest fear was Russia using tactical nuclear weapons. Fortunately, the CIA director is saying that he has seen no evidence (so far) that Russia is ready to deploy such weapons in Ukraine.

Update #2: The CIA Director is right about this .... CIA Director terms China 'most important' challenge in 21st century (ANI).