Putin Warns Russia Will Use All Weapons to Defend Kaliningrad

In October 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is prepared to use its full arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if Kaliningrad is attacked. A Kremlin aide said Russia would retaliate swiftly if NATO carries out threats against the region, and a letter to NATO about Kaliningrad was described by the Kremlin as not confrontational.

The statements came as Russia prepared to conscript 120,000 people for the fall and after a reported record loss of 46,230 troops in September. Separately, CCTV footage showed a Russian drone hitting a school in Ukraine.