Speaking on state TV, he said: “There is already a thermonuclear charge in Mykolaiv which will be designated for use in a provocation.
“One can assume that the explosion of that charge against the background of NATO and the US's constant claims that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons, on the eve of that offensive or during that offensive in order to say that because Russia is suffering defeat.
“It has conducted a strike on Ukrainian forces which will end in tens of thousands of civilian deaths.
“This will allow the USA to justify large-scale missile strikes on the territory, on our troops in those regions and on Russian territory.