In a recent statement on his Telegram channel, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, issued a stern warning to NATO countries.
He stated that any NATO-approved strikes on Russian territory would lead to the retaliation, not only within Ukraine but also on nation from which attacks on Russia might originate.
A Clear Message to NATO
Medvedev's statement leaves little room for ambiguity.
"All their military equipment and specialists fighting against us will be destroyed both on the territory of former Ukraine and on the territory of other countries if strikes are carried out from there against Russian territory," he declared, according to the Russian news outlet TASS.
The senior Russian official also stated that Moscow views all long-range weapons supplied to Ukraine as being "directly operated by servicemen from NATO countries."
This perspective, he argued, equates to NATO's active participation in the war against Russia. Consequently, this could justify Russia initiating combat operations in response.
Medvedev also mentioned that NATO should consider the legal implications of potential retaliatory strikes on its equipment, facilities, and servicemen in line with Articles 4 and 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
Articles 4 and 5 outline NATO's collective defense measures, where a threat to one member is considered a threat to all.
However, the treaty does not define specific actions NATO may take, establishing a consultation mechanism to decide on a response.
