Defense: Russia to use nuclear weapons if threatened

Chief of the General Staff Yuri Baluyevsky, has warned that Russia will not shy away from using nuclear weapons to protect itself.

Speaking at a scientific conference of the Academy of Military Sciences, he was quoted as saying, ''We do not intend to attack anybody. But all our partners must realize that for protection of Russia and its allies if necessary armed forces will be used, including preventively, including with the use of nuclear weapons.''

He added, "As life is ever-changing, it has become necessary today to update certain provisions of the concept and, what is the most important, to turn these provisions into a working mechanism for protecting our national security".