Korotchenko's statements come just days after it was revealed that President Vladimir Putin had instructed Russia's space agency to put a deadly new intercontinental ballistic missle system, dubbed Satan II, on "combat duty."
"Russia is being warned and threatened that if we misbehave or if in Ben Hodges' opinion, we exceed what he considers to be the necessary permissible lines for the use of all types of Russian weapons," Korotchenko began, referencing the former US Army Europe Commanding General and NATO Senior Mentor for Logistics.
"He threatens us with more than just strikes on the Crimean Bridge," Korotchenko continued. "He assured us that the US may decide to strike the bases of the Black Sea Fleet, the groups of Russian troops in Crimea, as well as strike our naval base in Syria."
Korotchenko claimed that the Russian government should not dismiss Hodges' statements as simply the thoughts of a "retired hawk," suggesting they were representative of a new field of information aimed at influencing audiences on both sides of the Pacific.
He concluded by stating, "The most important message we should send to the Americans is: We will not wage war with you in Europe. In response to your attacks on Russian military or civilian facilities, the first strike will be a preventative, limited strike against targets on the territory of the United States of America."
Senator Mike Lee responded to Korotchenko's statements on X, saying, "When a nuclear-armed adversary threatens to nuke us, we should be concerned. This is just one of many reasons why I insist that, if we're not prepared to go to war with Russia, we have no business funding a proxy war against Russia."
