'Putin has nowhere else to go... We should expect nukes': Senior British military commander warns that Russia's leader may lash out

The UK should expect Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons as he faces an inevitable defeat in Ukraine, a senior British military commander has suggested.

Retired Major-General Jonathan Shaw said there is not much else the Russian president can do given the failure of his conventional forces.

His shock warning came as Ukrainian advances continued yesterday, in particular near the southern city of Kherson, where Russia's frontline has collapsed, according to sources on both sides of the conflict.

Dozens of towns and villages were liberated in a matter of hours following the withdrawal of Russian forces, who were said to be cut off from their supply lines.

Kremlin troops retreated around ten miles, according to pro-Russian military bloggers.

Yesterday the Royal Navy confirmed that a frigate had been dispatched to the North Sea to protect gas pipelines.

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