Russia’s foreign intelligence chief today warned the West that it poses a risk of dangerous repercussions if the US and its European allies engage in a direct military confrontation with Russia over Ukraine.

Moscow has criticized Washington’s decision to allow Ukraine to use US missiles to hit targets inside Russia, and yesterday President Vladimir Putin lowered the bar for the country to resort to a nuclear strike in response to conventional attacks.

Rising tensions have turned some investors to so-called safe havens in financial markets amid concerns that there could be a global confrontation like the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.

Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), said Russia would punish any NATO states that help Ukraine strike targets deep into Russian territory with Western long-range weapons.

“Attempts by individual NATO allies to participate in supporting possible long-range strikes with Western weapons deep inside Russian territory will not go unpunished,” Naryshkin told National Defence magazine.

Russia said Ukraine launched American ATACMS missiles at Russia early yesterday and suggested that the US must have assisted in those strikes. Washington did not respond directly to these claims but said yesterday that Russia’s revision of its nuclear doctrine was not surprising and dismissed “irresponsible, once again, rhetoric from Russia”.

According to Washington, it is Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in February 2022, that is responsible for the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday that the review shows the Russian leader’s lack of interest in peace.

The US closed its embassy in Kyiv today because of “specific information about a possible major airstrike” and told its citizens in Ukraine to be prepared to seek immediate shelter. The Kremlin said it had no comment.

Naryshkin, who heads one of the organizations that succeeded the Soviet KGB, said Western elites are increasingly “beginning to understand the seriousness of Russia’s intentions.”

He said the West should be aware of “the need for greater restraint in its actions so as not to engage in a direct military conflict with our country, which could lead to disastrous consequences for them.”