Tory MPs issue warning over Vladimir Putin's 'weapons of mass destruction'

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station sparked new worries about the methods Vladimir Putin uses in an attempt to win his war in Ukraine. Tory MP Bob Seely believes Britain underestimates the threat.

Tory MPs issue warning over Vladimir Putin's 'weapons of mass destruction'
© Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images
Tory MPs issue warning over Vladimir Putin's 'weapons of mass destruction'

The escalation of the war in Ukraine brought by the recent destruction of the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station led to Tory politicians issuing a terrifying warning.

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They believe that we might be 'underestimating' Vladimir Putin’s intention to do whatever it takes - including the use of tactical nuclear weapons - to take control of its neighbour.

The disaster in Kakhovka led to thousands being evacuated while endangering the infrastructure in the entire region.

Tory MP Bob Seely fears Vladimir Putin could resort to more ‘devastating’ weapons of mass destruction which will imminently result in more lives lost.

What happened to the Kakhovka dam?

Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, located in the Moscow-controlled Kherson region along the Dnipro River, was blown up on Tuesdaycausing a massive flood.

Up to 100 settlements have been threatened and thousands of people have been evacuated from the local area.

Kyiv accused Russian forces of blowing up the dam in a bid to slow down the Ukrainian counter-offensive, with Western countries calling for an investigation.

Russia has denied the allegations, blaming Kyiv for sabotaging the dam to deprive Russian-controlled Crimea of the freshwater it receives from the reservoir.

Some Russian officials said it could be caused by Ukrainian ‘night attacks’ on the region that had ‘led to the destruction of the valves’.

Local authorities fear that the disaster will inhibit water from getting to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which the plant uses for cooling. But the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reassures said there is 'no immediate nuclear safety risk' following the collapse of the dam.

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What was the warning issued by a Tory MP?

Tory MP Bob Seely, who has served in the UK Armed Forces, warned against 'underestimating' the threat of Vladimir Putin using tactical nuclear weapons.

While smaller than strategic nuclear weapons, they are used for specific targets rather than for mass destruction but can still lead to the significant loss of infrastructure and lives.

Tobias Ellwood, the chair of the UK Parliament’s defence select committee, blamed disaster on Russian military and said that deadly attacks could ‘easily bleed out well beyond Ukrainian itself’.

He told Times Radio:

We’re moving into Russia using, and creating, weapons of mass destruction which could have a devastating scale from a humanitarian perspective.
We cannot be bystanders while watching Putin destroy this critical national infrastructure.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the destruction of the dam would mark a ‘new low’ in the conflict if Russian forces were found to be responsible while calling attacks on civilian infrastructure ‘appalling and wrong.’

Read more:

Vladimir Putin considering options to attack the West, military expert fears: 'Britain is not ready'

Russian ambassador issues threat to the UK, warns 'escalation may get a new dimension'

Sources used:

- Yahoo News: 'Kherson dam: Putin could use ‘devastating’ weapons of mass destruction, senior MP warns'

- GB News: 'Warning issued as Britain 'underestimating' threat of Putin using nuclear weapons - 'It is horrifying''

Vladimir Putin warns Brits ‘underestimate’ Russia as he slams Rishi Sunak in vicious rant Vladimir Putin warns Brits ‘underestimate’ Russia as he slams Rishi Sunak in vicious rant