An ally of Vladimir Putin has claimed that the Kremlin is contemplating launching a nuclear strike on Paris.
The shocking warning was delivered by the deputy chairman of the Russian Parliament, who told French news broadcaster BFMTV: "We are calculating."
Pyotr Tolstoy, who previously did stints for a number of French news outlets as a Moscow correspondent, went on to say that a nuclear warhead fired from Russia could reach France's capital in "a little more than two minutes".
Mr Tolstoy went on to say that Russia's priority is to ensure that it is secure - a need he says comes after NATO countries are possiblly considering "placing missiles around Russian borders." This isn't the first time one of Putin's allies have issued a nuclear threat since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, or even the start of 2024.
Just last week, Putin said that Russia was "ready" for a nuclear confrontation should one of the red lines in the nuclear doctrine embraced by the country in 2010 be crossed. According to the country's security doctrine, any threat to the Russian state, sovereignty or independent could cause a devastating reaction from the Kremlin.
Tolstoy criticised France in his interview just days after French President Emmanuel Macron refused once again to rule out "operations on the ground" in Ukraine, adding his country was preparing for "all scenarios", according to The Express.
He told Le Parisien: "Perhaps at some point – I don’t want it, I won’t take the initiative – it will be necessary to have operations on the ground, whatever they may be, to counter the Russian forces."
It comes as earlier this month, an apparent leaked Russian government document revealed Vladimir Putin is preparing to 'spread chaos' across Europe plunging the continent into war - which would be World War 3.
The documents, which appear to be signed by Putin, were allegedly intercepted by Ukrainian hackers and lay out the despot's plans after the war in Ukraine has finished. The letter, which was dated December 12, 2023, appears to have been signed by the Russian dictator.
Ukraine's National Resistance Center said it intercepted the documents. The letter, understood to have been written to Putin, lays out a five-step plan to be introduced following the conclusion of the war in Ukraine and the 'fall of the Kyiv regime'.