Lose Crimea or Use Nuclear Weapons: What Option Will Russia Choose According to Elon Musk?

Tesla co-founder Elon Musk stated today that Russia would resort to tactical nuclear weapons if it assesses that it is facing the loss of Crimea or a 'complete defeat' in the war with Ukraine, according to The National News.

'If Russia is faced with the choice of losing Crimea or using nuclear weapons on the battlefield, it will choose the latter,' Musk wrote in a Twitter discussion. 'If we strike Russia with nuclear weapons, they will strike us back, and we will have a Third World War,' he mentioned.

The media notes that the comments from the American billionaire come as Russian forces have intensified bombings of Kyiv. The Ukrainian capital was struck for the second time in a week by kamikaze drones, causing residents to rush to shelters.

Musk also did not rule out that Moscow would resort to nuclear weapons if it faces a 'complete defeat' in Ukraine. Due to ongoing counter-offensives, Ukrainian forces have expelled Russian troops from several regions in Eastern Ukraine.

'If Russia is faced with the annihilation of its army and a total defeat by NATO, they will use nuclear weapons,' he wrote, adding, 'In that case, NATO will respond with nuclear weapons, and civilization will be over.'

'In this scenario, Russia does not get Crimea, so you can take comfort in that thought while watching the mushroom clouds rise,' he tweeted in another post.