But on the day the war started, the weapons were fully in place,” says the former officer in the Russian nuclear forces. “We were ready

His statement came after Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev suggested that provision of nuclear arms to Ukraine may be considered a nuclear attack by Russia, warranting a nuclear response from the Russian forces.

Russia's Dmitry Medvedev warned of nuclear war if the U.S transfers nuclear weapons to Ukraine: "The consequences are obvious."