Russia has warned of an ‘overwhelming surprise nuclear strike’ on its soil by the US.

The country’s state broadcaster RT quoted Russian general staff as saying that the American anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system is ‘provoking a new arms race’.

Russia’s defence ministry also warned that the US deployment of its system is a threat to world security.

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RT said Viktor Poznikhir, deputy head of operations of the Russian general staff, told a disarmament conference in Geneva of the perceived threat.

‘The presence of the global ABM system lowers the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, because it gives the US the illusion of impunity for using strategic offensive weapons from under the protection of the ABM “umbrella”.

‘The ABM shield is a symbol of the build-up of rocket forces in the world and a trigger for a new arms race.’

RT said Russian officials claim the US ABM system ‘compromises Russia’s nuclear deterrence capabilities’.

It reported that Mr Poznikhir said the US is ‘continuing to develop the system under a pretext of countering a perceived threat from North Korea and Iran, while ignoring Russia’s wider concerns’.

The US has deployed its THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile system in South Korea to counter North Korea’s recent ballistic missile tests.

The system is set up to shoot down ballistic missiles.

Mr Poznikhir said the ABM system can already intercept ‘some missiles and would only become more capable in the future’.

He said the US development of its ABM shield ‘narrows down the opportunity for nuclear reduction dialogue,’ RT reported.