and sent this report. from the kremlin, a pointed message to the west. don t push russia. president putin summoned his military chiefs and gave them an order. translation: top officials of leading nato countries i are making aggressive statements about our country. therefore, i am ordering the minister of defence and the chief of the general staff to put the strategic nuclear forces on special alert. would putin really use them? he practised a week ago, overseeing exercises of russia s strategic deterrence forces. typically unsubtle hints to america and nato not to stand in his way over ukraine. today s special alert, more presidential muscle flexing.