Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the foundations of Russia's state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence, according to a decree published on the legal information portal on Tuesday.
"In order to improve the state policy of the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear deterrence, I decree: 1. To approve the attached Fundamentals of the state policy of the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear deterrence," the document said.
The decree takes effect from November 19.
"Aggression against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies by any non-nuclear state with the participation or support of a nuclear state is considered as their joint attack," the document further read.
Deterring a potential enemy from aggression against Russia and its allies is among the highest state priorities of the country, the document read.
"The guaranteed deterrence of a potential enemy from aggression against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies is one of the highest state priorities. The deterrence of aggression is ensured by the totality of the military power of the Russian Federation, including nuclear weapons," the document said.
Aggression of any state from a military coalition against Russia or its allies is considered as an aggression of this coalition as whole, the document said.
"The aggression of any state from a military coalition (bloc, union) against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies is considered as the aggression of this coalition (bloc, union) as a whole," the document said.
The Russian state policy on nuclear deterrence is aimed at maintaining the potential of nuclear forces at a level sufficient for nuclear deterrence.
"The state policy in the area of nuclear deterrence is defensive in nature, aimed at maintaining the potential of nuclear forces at a level sufficient to ensure nuclear deterrence, and guarantees the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, deterrence of a potential enemy from aggression against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies, and in the event of a military conflict - preventing the escalation of military actions and their termination on terms acceptable to the Russian Federation and (or) its allies," the document read.
The policy is also aimed at ensuring that a potential adversary understands the inevitability of a retaliation in the event of aggression against Russia.
Russia's state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence is defensive in nature and guarantees the protection of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree.
Russia exercises nuclear deterrence against its potential adversaries, including countries, blocs and alliances that consider the country an adversary and possess nuclear or other types of weapons of mass destruction or significant combat potential, according to the decree.
"Nuclear deterrence is also carried out against states that provide their controlled territory, air or sea space and resources for the preparation and implementation of aggression against the Russian Federation," the document read.
The adaptability of nuclear deterrence to military dangers and threats is included in the foundations of Russia's state policy on nuclear deterrence, the decree added.
In addition, uncertainty for a potential adversary about the scale and place of use of nuclear forces is attributed to the principles of Russian nuclear deterrence, according to the decree.
Russia's nuclear deterrent forces include land-based, sea-based and air-based forces, it said.
"The nuclear deterrent forces of the Russia include land-based, sea-based and air-based nuclear forces," the document read.
The nuclear deterrence is ensured by the presence of forces and means in the Russian armed forces capable of inflicting unacceptable damage on an enemy with nuclear arms, the document added.