Vladimir Putin vowed that troops will use "weapons of unprecedented characteristics" after reports emerged of his soldiers deploying illegal chemical weapons in Ukraine.
The warmongering president was surrounded by security officers as he touched down in the far eastern region of Amur this morning to visit a space port in commemoration of the Soviet's first manned space mission.
At a press conference shortly after, he vowed Russian troops have been using "weapons of unprecedented characteristics" in what seemed to be a veiled threat at NATO.
In so-called "warm words" to soldiers on the ground, he said they are "acting effectively" in their military operation refocused on the pro-Russia Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
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The despot's chilling promise comes amid claims that Russian soldiers deployed illegal chemical weapons in the besieged city of Mariupol - where thousands of innocent civillians have been slaughtered.
After leaving the plane Putin walked across the tarmac with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, with an agent clad in a jet black suit and tie walking just a few feet behind him.
In his hand was a dark leather case - which reportedly contains Russia's 'White Button' which, if pressed, could launch nuclear missiles and cause unimaginable destruction to targets as far away as 16,000km (9,941 miles).
Today was the second appearance of the case since Putin ordered the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine on February 24.
Last Friday Putin was seen arriving at a funeral in Moscow with a military officer carrying a briefcase behind him.
Mourners at Christ the Saviour Cathedral were removed to make way for Putin to pay his respects to the open coffin of ultranationalist and far-right lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
In recent weeks reports have emerged of Putin's rising paranoia, with him terrified of assassination or a coup carried out by the country's top military chiefs.
The military official carrying the terrifying hand luggage comes after Putin himself warned the West of
"consequences greater than any you have faced in history" if they become involved in his invasion.
The UK's armed forces minister James Heappey made his own veiled threat to the Kremlin today.
He said "all options are on the table" if it's proven that Russian troops used chemical agents in Mariupol, which has not yet been verified by British intelligence.
When questioned whether the use of the illegal weapons could trigger an on-the-ground response from British and NATO troops, he replied: "All options are on the table".
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Monday Britain was working with its partners to verify the details of reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, where thousands are believed to have died during a near-seven week siege.
"There are some things that are beyond the pale, and the use of chemical weapons will get a response and all options are on the table for what that response could be," Heappey told Sky News, adding that British defence intelligence so far had been unable to verify the reports.
Asked on LBC Radio whether he could rule out this including deploying British or NATO troops on Ukrainian soil, Heappey said: "No, all options are on the table."
Russia has used a suspected chemical weapon in the besieged city of Mariupol, Ukraine claims.
Ukrainian troops defending the city are reportedly suffering respiratory failure, dizziness and other symptoms as a result of the 'unknown substance'.
It comes after multiple warnings that Russia may use chemical weapons to break the stalemate in Ukraine.
Pro-Russian separatist rebels said the Kremlin could use chemical weapons to defeat the Mariupol defenders.
