Provoked by increased sanctions and “aggressive statements” from NATO, Putin raised nuclear deterrent forces alert to “special combat readiness” entering the fourth day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. From the onset, Putin warned that any attempt by other countries to interfere would lead to “consequences you have never seen.” Fox News reported that former DIA officer, Rebeka Koffler said, “He is escalating the conflict into the nuclear domain in order to de-escalate – that is to topple Kyiv’s regime quickly.”
