Russian Lawmaker's Nuclear Threats Escalate Amidst Ukraine Conflict

Russian State Duma deputy Andrey Gurulyov suggested on a radio show that Alaska, the US state closest to Russia, should be the target of a nuclear attack. Gurulyov made the suggestion in response to Western support for Ukraine, including the provision of American-made F-16 fighter jets. He also discussed the possibility of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine. This is not the first time that Russian officials have suggested a claim on Alaska, with the speaker of the Russian parliament's lower house suggesting in July 2022 that the state still belonged to Russia.