How Putin has ramped up his nuclear war rhetoric: As Vladimir once again speaks of Armageddon, the increasingly alarming threats he has made to nuke the West since invading Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin today confirmed his readiness for nuclear war should the US deploy troops to war-torn Ukraine - the latest in a series of warnings he has delivered to the West in the two years since he launched his invasion. Pictured - Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bombers and Mig-31I fighters armed with hypersonic Dagger missiles The Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile is launched during a test at Plesetsk cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk region, Russia, in this still image taken from a video released on April 20, 2022 FEBRUARY 24, 2022 - 'CONSEQUENCES YOU HAVE NEVER FACED' Putin says in a speech to launch his 'special military operation' in Ukraine that Russia is a leading nuclear power 'and possesses certain advantages in some of the newest types of weaponry. Putin declared in today's interview that Russia is ready to resort to nuclear weapons if need be, stating the country's missiles are readily available for use Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Sarmat production facilities in Krasnoyarsk region SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 - US CREATED A 'PRECEDENT' Putin says the United States created a 'precedent' when it dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945. He says Russia has no mandate to launch a preventative first nuclear strike but that Russia's advanced hypersonic weapons would ensure Russia could respond forcefully if it ever came under attack. On February 22, 2022, Putin takes a flight on the Tupolev Tu-160M 'Ilya Muromets' nuclear-capable strategic bomber plane in Kazan On September 21, 2022, Putin ordered Russia's first military mobilisation since World War Two OCTOBER 5, 2023 - 'NO PERSON OF SOUND MIND' Putin says he sees no need to change Russian doctrine which says it may use nuclear weapons in the event of a nuclear attack or a conventional threat to the existence of the state.