Top brass defends Russia's right to preemptive strike

"We are not planning to attack anyone. But our partners should clearly understand... that the armed forces will be used if necessary to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation and its allies, including on a preventative basis, including with the use of nuclear weapons," RIA Novosti quoted [Chief of General Staff Yuri] Baluyevsky as saying Saturday at a scientific conference in Moscow.