A rising number of Russians are ready to approve Vladimir Putin using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Some 34 per cent – just over one in three – would definitely or likely support use of the ultimate weapon in the conflict.

This is five per cent higher than one year ago, and the highest since Putin launched his illegal war against the sovereign state Ukraine. The findings from the Levada Centre show 31 per cent are definitely against the use of weapons, while 21 per cent are likely against it.

The upward trend shows the success of Russian propagandists seeking to gain support for nuclear use. Putin recently ordered tactical nuclear missile drills in Russia and neighbouring Belarus which he has supplied with atomic weapons.

The Kremlin dictator is considering changing the country’s nuclear doctrine, to lower the threshold for using such weapons.

Currently he could authorise the use of tactical – or battlefield – nuclear weapons on the basis of a perceived threat to the Russian state from attack by conventional or nuclear weapons.

Russia is staging major nuclear missile drills today as Britain ushers in a new government.

On the orders of Vladimir Putin, the Yars missile crews practised deployment in two regions, Irkutsk and Ivanovo.

A video showed a mobile launcher manoeuvring along forest roads and taking up position before troops covered it in camouflage netting.

‘Similar exercises will be held by other missile units in the near future,’ said the Russian defence ministry.

Previous such tests were held in late June and they also coincide with Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour government taking over from the Tories in Britain.

Russia expects the incoming administration to be as supportive of Ukraine as the outgoing Rishi Sunak government.

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