After praising the success of Russia's cruise missiles fired against terrorists in Syria, President Vladimir Putin said he hopes that nukes will not be used against terror groups or anyone in the fight against terrorism.
The Russian president made the remarks after meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in the Kremlin.
Shoigu had informed Putin about the firing of the missiles from the submarine fleet in the Mediterranean, which hit two key positions in the de-facto capital of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Raqqa.
Putin pointed out that the missiles could be fitted with nuclear warheads but expressed hope this is not going to happen especially if conventional means prove a success.
"We must analyse everything happening on the battlefield, how the weapons operate. The Kalibr (sea-based cruise missiles) have proved to be modern and highly effective, and now we know it for sure—precision weapons that can be equipped with both conventional and special warheads, which are nuclear,'' he said.
"Naturally, this is not necessary when fighting terrorists and, I hope, will never be needed,'' the president added.
On Tuesday, a Russian Kilo-class submarine, the Rostov-on-Don, fired Kalibr PL cruise missiles against an ISIS installation near the terrorists' stronghold in Raqqa. Water-to-surface cruise missiles were launched from a submerged sub in the Mediterranean Sea, the defence minister said, RT reported.
"We've been registering the missiles launches, flights and of course their hitting the targets,'' Shoigu said. "We warned our Israeli and American colleagues about these launches.''
Kalibr and KH-101 cruise missiles have been deployed for the first time this year in Russia's counter-terrorism operation in Syria, it was reported.
Russia has been carrying out an air campaign in Syria since Sept. 30, using warplanes at an air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia, as well as navy ships and long-range bombers flying from their bases in Russia.
While Moscow claims its action has been focused on ISIS, the U.S. and its allies have criticised Russia for also striking moderate rebel groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Brett McGurk, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for the anti-ISIS coalition, has estimated that only 30 percent of Russia's airstrikes in Syria are targeting the terror group.
