VLADIMIR Putin's "propaganda chief" has threatened the West with nuclear annihilation during a rambling broadcast on Russian TV.
News anchor Dmitry Kiselyov told viewers across Russia’s 11 time zones that the West would be blown to smithereens with "more than 500 nuclear warheads" if it continued to threat Moscow.
The bonkers threat comes as
Putin ordered his nuclear forces be put on high alert and are now "combat ready".
Speaking on national TV, the deranged presenter warned: "Our submarines can shoot more than 500 nuclear warheads.
“This would guarantee destruction of the USA, and all other NATO countries."
Kiselyov appeared to back his argument with the crackpot principle that if Russia wasn't part of the globe then "why do we need the world?"
Continuing his diatribe, Kiselyov threatened: "Russia’s nuclear arms are delivered by the world’s fastest strategic bombers.
"That’s without even mentioning Russian Strategic Missile Forces.
"The Russian nuclear potential is the strongest in the world.
"Today our Russian Nuclear Triad is on the high alert.
"Putin did warn [the West]. Do not try to scare Russia."
In his Vesti Nedeli weekly news show on state-run Rossiya 1 channel, Putin's propaganda chief blamed the UK's foreign secretary Liz Truss for seeking to "intimidate" Russia.
He claimed Putin made the decision of "utmost importance" to put his nuclear forces on alert as the West imposed alleged “illegitimate” sanctions and NATO issued "aggressive statements".
He chided Truss for reportedly saying a conflict between Russia and NATO could emerge from the crescent Ukrainian crisis.
"A conflict between Russia and NATO over Ukraine - nothing like this has been said before," he said.
But Russia’s nuclear capability with new-age "superweapons" like "hypersonic Tsirkon" were more than a match for the West’s capability, he said.
The bizarre tirade forms part of a media offensive from the Kremlin in which it depicts Ukrainian fighters as Nazis and Russian forces as a liberating force.
Dmitry Kiselev, another of the Kremlin's raging TV propagandists, accused German chancellor Olaf Scholz of "solidarity with the genocide of today" - parroting Putin's unfounded claim that Russian speakers in Ukraine were being killed en masse.
On another Russian state TV show, host Olga Skabeyeva said: "You know, as they retreat, the Ukrainian Nazis continue to destroy Donbas.
"Today Zhelobok was shelled with Grad multiple rocket launchers. Yesterday the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched Tochka ballistic missiles at an oil facility."
The prolonged campaign of misinformation is trying to convince Russians that the conflict was provoked by the West.
The threat came hours after Russia's defence minister said the country's nuclear forces were locked and loaded and ready for combat.
Sergei Shoigu said Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern and Pacific Fleets, and the long-range aviation command were now ready to annihilate the West in an apocalyptic nuclear war.
Putin put
his nuclear forces on high alert on Sunday after warning the West "may face the greatest consequences in history".
I am typically a pessimist, and I felt like Trump was done, until I saw the CPAC vote. I think Trump running again will actually help the Democrats. I do not see him winning, unless he is head to head with Biden and Biden cannot turn things around or he runs against someone who is far left. I base this opinion off the moderate voters I have contact with. They are done with Trump, but disappointed in Biden and Harris and are afraid of some of the far left social policies. At this point, I think the Dems would benefit from a new ticket that is not from the far left of their base. I would like to believe the Republicans would as well. Maybe I am in denial. Can either party nominate a moderate? Clear thinking conservatives have seen what Trump says and should realize that Trump puts himself above country. That SHOULD turn them off. I think you all can take solace in the fact that Trumps base is not 74 million voters. To bring this back to Russia/Ukraine, I really think this is an opportunity to unite. Biden should pay attention. He has a golden opportunity here to get back on track. 
