With memes and in state media, many Russians cheer on Putins nuclear threats [Video]

The day after President Vladimir Putin raised the stakes in tensions with the West, many Russians awoke on Friday feeling anxious that the prospect of nuclear war had come slightly closer.

But in Russia’s tightly controlled news media and pro-government social media channels, there were only fawning reactions to the Russian leader’s new round of sabre-rattling and promises that Moscow’s enemies would “tremble in fear”.

Putin announced late Thursday that Russia had launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine in response to Kyiv’s first use of US and British missiles against targets inside Russia this past week. Russia, he said, also has the right to strike nations “that allow their weapons to be …