That horrible scenario might come into play to create a radioactive buffer zone.
Given my experiences with Russians in Tbilisi, Georgia after Georgian independence, I wouldn’t put it past them. They aren’t stupid enough to start a nuke WWIII and know they don’t have to. They do know how to push people’s buttons to get what they want. They aren’t stupid in that respect either. Don’t mess with a culture where revenge and chess are favorite pastimes.