JOE Biden warned the world is facing nuclear "Armageddon" if Vladimir Putin uses his arsenal – and said the despot "isn't joking".
After Russia's invasion eight months ago, Putin has made thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons if he feels he has run out of options in his bid to seize swaths of Ukrainian territory in the face of stiff resistance by Western-back Kyiv.
"We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis" in 1962, Biden said Thursday in New York, adding that "we're trying to figure out what is Putin's off-ramp".
While experts say any nuclear attacks would likely be relatively small, Biden warned that even a tactical strike in a limited area would still risk triggering a wider conflagration.
Putin is "not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons, because his military is, you might say, significantly underperforming," he said.
Read our Ukraine-Russia live blog below for the latest updates…
Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov met with German politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann today.
Oleksii said he is looking forward to "practical results including a commitment to the strengthening of Ukraine's air defence."
Had a warm and friendly conversation with our partner from the Bundestag @MAStrackZi , Chairman of the Defense Committee. I look forward to a productive discussion that will bring practical results, including a commitment to the strengthening of 🇺🇦 air defense. pic.twitter.com/YN7HyHC8G8
General Sergei Shoigu has come under fire after experiencing a series of defeats on the battlefield and displaying a sluggish strategy.
In a video shared on social media, Kirill Stremousov fumed: "A lot of people say that the defence minister, as an officer who let that happen, could shoot himself.
"But you know what, the word ‘officer’ is not familiar for some people."
In a chilling warning, Biden said Putin's plan to unleash nuclear weapons is the biggest such threat since the Cuban Missile Crisis – one of the most dangerous periods of the Cold War.
Speaking on Thursday night, Biden said the United States was "trying to figure out" Putin's way out of the war as Ukraine continues to blitz across the country.
He warned the Russian leader was "not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons, because his military is… significantly underperforming".
"For the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis, we have a direct threat to the use of nuclear weapons, if in fact things continue down the path they'd been going," Biden said.
"We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis."
Footage has emerged of Russian mobilised soldiers in Yakutia opening bags of items to prepare them for the war.
However, within the goody bags, there is no specialist equipment, just a "a first aid kit, a chocolate bar, and sanitary pads (apparently a makeshift bullet wound dressing)".
In the video, shared by the BBC's Francis Scarr, the men are heard laughing as they view the bags contents.
Local authorities in Yakutia are handing out goody bags as they bid farewell to mobilised men
They contain a first aid kit, a chocolate bar, and sanitary pads (apparently a makeshift bullet wound dressing)
"I was expecting ballistic eyewear at the very least" the man jokes pic.twitter.com/vIne6oviTe
Two Russian's have sailed 300 miles to America to flee the war in Ukraine after Putin's mobilisation.
The pair fled Russia to avoid military service and requested asylum in the US.
Karina Borger, a spokesperson for the Alaska Republican senator, said that the office has been in communication with the US Coast Guard and Border Protection and that the Russian nationals reported that they fled one of the coastal communities on the east coast of Russia to avoid compulsory military service.
The Ukrainian human rights organisation the Center for Civil Liberties were just one of three recipients of this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
They have taken to Twitter to express how proud they are of receiving the award for recognition "of work of many human rights activists in Ukraine and not only in Ukraine".
Proud to be awarded #NobelPeacePrize this is a recognition of work of many human rights activists in Ukraine and not only in Ukraine @avalaina and @ccl_ua ready to protect human rights https://t.co/hjxcoUgl5j
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence have released their latest update on Russian losses.
They have claimed that a further 350 Russian troops were killed in the past 24 hours taking the total losses to 61,680.
A further 17 tanks and 31 artillery vehicles were destroyed according to the Ministry.
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G.K. Chesterton
Total combat losses of the enemy from Feb 24 to Oct 7: pic.twitter.com/9uuU52Re8r
Oleksii Reznikov, the Ukrainian defence minister has claimed Russian soldiers were "promised an easy walk" but have actually been "sent in to a trap".
In a recorded address shared on Telegram, Mr Reznikov called on them to save Russia.
He went on to say: "You are destroying entire cities. How will you go down in history?"
Ales Bialiatski, a Belarusian human rights activist has been awarded with this year's Nobel Peace prize.
Bialiatski is currently being held in pre-trial detention and is the founder of the country’s Viasna (Spring) Human Rights Centre.
Following the announcement the chairwoman was quizzed on whether the recipients were intended to send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Berit Reiss-Andersen denied the committee was "addressing President Putin" saying the prize was "not against anyone" but given for positive actions.
Vladimir Putin turns 70 today, and has only received one birthday message from his ally and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
He said: "Today, Russia is reliably defending the dignity of the state and its fundamental interests from the challenges and threats by the US and its vassal forces.
"Such reality is unthinkable without your distinguished leadership and strong will."
The Ministry of Defence have issued their latest intelligence map suggesting that there is “likely Russian advances” continuing in the Donbas region.
Russia are currently focusing their advances in this area after Ukraine have made significant progress towards Kherson.
The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing.
The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 07 October 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/WMogA9kGaS
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/hfmRFRGrcX
The UK's Ministry Of Defence have released their latest intelligence update.
The Ministry have claimed that "a large proportion of Ukraine’s military hardware" is made up of "re-purposed captured Russian equipment."
The MoD said: "Ukraine has likely captured at least 440 Russian Main Battle Tanks, and around 650 other armoured vehicles since the invasion. Over half of Ukraine’s currently fielded tank fleet potentially consists of captured vehicles.
"The failure of Russian crews to destroy intact equipment before withdrawing or surrendering highlights their poor state of training and low levels of battle discipline.
"With Russian formations under severe strain in several sectors and increasingly demoralised troops, Russia will likely continue to lose heavy weaponry."
A pro-Putin propagandist has cried live on state TV after slamming Russian’s that have refused to fight as “a lost cause”.
Boris Korchevnikov claimed some Russians are “decay & garbage” because they “don’t understand what this war is for”.
“If you can’t change your attitude towards your country even then, you’re a lost cause, you’re nothing, you’re zero. No need to teach patriotism or love to mankind. You’re decay, you’re garbage,” he added.
The United States could deploy nuclear weapons to Poland, the country’s president has said.
Andrzej Duda said the NATO member wanted to be part of the alliance’s nuclear sharing scheme, as Russia warns of a military clash with America over its support for Ukraine.
Britain and France are the two NATO nations with nuclear weapons but Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey all host US around 100 B-61 bombs under the scheme.
“The problem, first of all, is that we don’t have nuclear weapons,” Duda said in an interview with the Gazeta Polska newspaper published on Wednesday.
“There is always a potential opportunity to participate in nuclear sharing. The topic is open.”
According to comments quoted by Interfax Ukraine, the deputy head of the National Police in Kharkiv has said that they have exhumed 534 bodies of civilians, including 19 children's bodies, in territories liberated from Russian forces in the region.
The deputy said there were also 226 women and 260 men exhumed as well as 29 individuals whose gender has not yet been established.
Ukrainian defenders can be seen dodging a barrage of Russian shelling as they charge across fields to Kherson in cars.
Ukrainian troops are continuing to make advances as Putin's battered troops are fleeing.
After avoiding shell holes and destroyed Russian vehicles, soldiers jumped out of the armoured cars and pressed on with their blitz.
The United States could deploy nuclear weapons to Poland, the country’s president has said.
Andrzej Duda said the NATO member wanted to be part of the alliance’s nuclear sharing scheme, as Russia warns of a military clash with America over its support for Ukraine.
Britain and France are the two NATO nations with nuclear weapons but Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey all host US around 100 B-61 bombs under the scheme.
“The problem, first of all, is that we don’t have nuclear weapons,” Duda said in an interview with the Gazeta Polska newspaper published on Wednesday.
“There is always a potential opportunity to participate in nuclear sharing. The topic is open.”
Thousands of Russian troops face being encircled on the west bank of the Dnipro after the only bridges across the four-mile-wide river were blitzed with US and UK supplied long-range rockets.
Russian state media quoted pro-Moscow local official Kirill Stremousov as saying troops were "conducting a regrouping in order to gather their strength and deliver a retaliatory blow”.
Russian troops are expected to fall back to the Inhulets river, just a few miles east of the city.
Russians cornered during Ukrainian's lightning-paced counteroffensive have been filmed surrendering with a white flag flying from their tank.
Incredible footage shows the vehicle heading to Ukrainian lines, as thousands are said to be throwing down their weapons in the face of Kyiv’s blitz and Russian continues to lose swathes of territory.
Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Hayday has said that Ukraine has captured six settlements in the eastern region.
Luhansk is one of four Ukrainian regions that Piutin annexed following "sham" referendums.
As Ukraine continues to blitz across the country, a senior US military official has said the country could retake Crimea – annexed by Russia in 2014 – if it continues to recapture territory at this pace.
The source told the Telegraph: "The recapture of Crimea by Ukraine is now a distinct possibility and can no longer be discounted.
"It is clear that Russia no longer has the ability or willpower to defend key positions, and if the Ukrainians succeed in their goal of recapturing Kherson, then there is a very real possibility that it will ultimately be able to recapture Crimea."
President Zelensky hails his troops for their lightening fast counter offensive after they " liberated thousands of kilometers in the Kharkiv region".
He said: "The occupiers were caught off guard and became real suppliers of weapons for the Ukrainian army."
A pro-Putin propagandist has cried live on state TV after slamming Russian's that have refused to fight as "a lost cause".
Boris Korchevnikov claimed some Russians are "decay & garbage" because they "don't understand what this war is for".
"If you can't change your attitude towards your country even then, you're a lost cause, you're nothing, you're zero. No need to teach patriotism or love to mankind. You're decay, you're garbage," he added.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence have claimed that Russian forces have lost a further 330 troops taking the total number to 61,330.
There have also been significant losses to armoured combat vehicles with a further 26 destroyed.
Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine's Minister of Defence has shared a video outlining the progress made by Zelensky's army in recent weeks.
"#UAarmy’s autumn offensive, day by day. While the "Russian parliament" is intoxicated from the futile attempts at annexation, our soldiers continue moving forward," he said.
As outlined in the video below, Ukraine has taken back large swathes of land in recent weeks, forcing Putin's army back.
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