Kyiv: Russia has the capability to launch a nuclear strike 'at any moment,' but Ukraine has seen no signs Moscow is preparing such an attack, a senior Ukrainian official said Friday. In an interview with The Times, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's presidential office, emphasized that while Russia's nuclear arsenal grants it the technical means to conduct a nuclear strike, the final decision rests on Moscow's political will.

According to Anadolu Agency, Budanov stated, "Russia absolutely has the capability to carry out a nuclear strike at any moment and at any distance. Its nuclear capabilities allow it to accomplish such a task. But this is, first and foremost, a question of political will." He reassured that he had not observed any indicators of preparation for a nuclear strike and asserted, "If there were, I would know."

Budanov further noted that Russia seemed ready to follow through on recent threats of a large-scale attack on central Kyiv. This comes after the Kremlin advised Western countries to evacuate their embassies and hinted at the potential use of its nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile. While he dismissed fears in Kyiv about an imminent nuclear strike as unfounded, he reiterated that Russia's arsenal remained a serious threat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin added to these concerns by declaring on Tuesday that Russia has achieved nuclear capabilities with "no counterparts in the world," highlighting continued advancements in its nuclear deterrence forces since the early 2000s.