RUSSIA'S nuclear weapons are now "live" and its missile command and navy on combat duty following Vladimir Putin's orders.

Kremlin defence minister Sergei Shoigu said that all Russian nuclear forces have been reinforced with additional personnel hours after Putin demanded his nuclear force be put onto high alert.

The defence ministry said the Strategic Missile Forces, the Northern and Pacific Fleets, and the long-range aviation command were ready to enter combat.

It comes as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed the heightened state of tensions on statements from Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

According to the Interfax news agency, Mr Peskov told a press briefing: "Statements were made by various representatives at various levels on possible altercations or even collisions and clashes between NATO and Russia.

"We believe that such statements are absolutely unacceptable.

"I would not call the authors of these statements by name, although it was the British foreign minister."

It was not immediately clear what statements the Kremlin was referring to.

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British and US officials have played down Putin's nuclear threat as it is unclear how his order changes Russia's nuclear posture.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson dismissed the alert as a "distraction" from the struggle Russian troops are facing amid fierce resistance in Ukraine.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the government didn't "see or recognise" any change to Russia's current nuclear posturing since Putin's orders.

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He told BBC Breakfast: "This is predominantly about Putin putting it on the table just to remind people, remind the world, that he has a deterrent.

"We will not do anything to escalate in that area, we will not do anything to feed any miscalculation, we take it very, very seriously.

"But at the moment this is a battle of rhetoric that President Putin is deploying, and we just have to make sure we manage it properly."

A spokesman for Ms Truss has been contacted about the Kremlin's claim.

It comes hours after Putin ordered his nuclear forces on a "special high alert" on Sunday.

The Russian tyrant is said to be "furious" he's not been able to subdue Ukraine and lashed out at NATO for its "unfriendly measures" he says forced him into the chilling nuclear gamble.

The move means Putin has ordered the world's largest stockpile of nuclear warheads prepared for launch readiness.

That raises the terrifying possibility the crisis and a miscalculation could spill over into nuclear war.

In an address on state TV, Putin claimed aggressive statements by NATO leaders and economic sanctions against Moscow have forced his hand.

He said "not only do Western countries take unfriendly measures" such as "illegal sanctions" but "top officials of leading NATO countries allow themselves to make aggressive statements with regards to our country".

Putin said he has now ordered his military command to put Russia's deterrence forces – a reference to units which include nuclear arms – on high alert.

"I order the defence minister and the chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces to put the deterrence forces of the Russian army into a special mode of combat service," Putin said.

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Ahead of his invasion of Ukraine, Putin chillingly warned Russia is "today one of the most powerful nuclear powers".

"To anyone who would consider interfering from outside – if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history," he said.

In response, the US rejected Putin's claims and its Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called his move "unacceptable".

"It means that President Putin is continuing to escalate this war in a manner that is totally unacceptable and we have to continue to stem his actions in the strongest possible way," she said.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Putin's response was familiar and "we've seen him do this time and time again".

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"At no point has Russia been under threat from NATO, has Russia been under threat from Ukraine," she said.

"This is all a pattern from President Putin and we're going to stand up to it."

NATO Secretary General condemned what he said was Putin's "dangerous rhetoric" adding his behaviour was "irresponsible".

The move has left the world scrambling to decipher what Putin's move signifies.

Both Russia and the United States typically have land and submarine-based nuclear forces on alert and prepared for combat at all times.

But nuclear capable bombers and other aircraft are not.

Russia’s nuclear doctrine was updated in 2020 allows for first-strike attacks if it has “reliable information” about the launch of ballistic missiles targeting its territory.

Pavel Podvig, a Geneva-based analyst and head of the Russian Nuclear Forces project, told The Guardian it was “hard to tell” what the order meant but could be “preliminary command.”

While it makes a retaliatory strike possible it “does not mean preparation for a first strike”.

He added that doesn't appear to include bombers being loaded with weapons and taking off.

VLAD'S GAMBLE

A UN spokesman said the idea of a nuclear war was unimaginable.

Stephane Dujarric said "The mere idea of a nuclear conflict is simply inconceivable."

The former chief of the Royal Navy, Lord West told The Sun one "miscalculation" could spark a war in Europe – which could spiral into a world war involving the use of nuclear weapons.

The battle for Ukraine is continuing to rage but Russian forces faltering, worrying new evidence has emerged about how much blood Putin is willing to shed.

Intelligence chiefs have said he is willing for 50,000 of his troops to be sacrificed in the war, the Mirror reports.

The grim prediction comes as the Russian Ministry of Health is preparing for a massive medical emergency.

Officials are looking for doctors with a number of specialisms from across Russia to come forward, according to ITN.

Medical organisations should be be ready "to be promptly involved in activities aimed at saving lives and preserving the health of people in Russia", the ministry has urged.

It comes as Ukraine faces a crucial 24 hours following another night its capital was under siege by Russian forces.

It follows high level peace talks were held at 10am UK time today between Moscow and Kyiv on Belarusian-Ukrainian border that were attended by Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich.

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