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Frants Klintsevich, deputy head of the Federation Council’s Committee for Defence and Security, said Britain was so small that it could be obliterated in one nuclear strike. He was responding to comments made by Michael Fallon in which the Defence Secretary said Britain would consider launching a preemptive strike on a nation if pushed.

Mr Fallon told the BBC: “In the most extreme circumstances we have made it very clear that you can’t rule out the use of nuclear weapons as a first strike. “The whole point about the deterrent is that you have got to leave uncertainty in the mind of anyone who might be thinking of using weapons against this country.”

Shocking pictures show young Russians preparing for WAR Thu, April 20, 2017 Images have emerged showing Russia preparing children for war as the threat of global nuclear conflict looms large Play slideshow Alamy Stock Photo 1 of 15 Fifth-grade students of the General Yermolov Cadet School wear gas masks during their first military tactical exercise on the ground, which includes radiation resistance classes, forest survival studies and other activities, in Stavropol, Russia

This contradicts Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has previously said he would not press the button on a nuclear warhead strike. But Mr Klintsevich took to Facebook to express his offence at Mr Fallon’s remarks.

GETTY Michael Fallon has been warned Britain could be wiped off the face of the earth

The Russian said: “The statement made by UK’s Defense Minister Michael Fallon calls for a harsh response and I’m not afraid of going too far. At best this statement may be seen as an element of a psychological war, which looks especially revolting in this context. “There is a quite natural question then: what country could be primitively targeted by the UK?