Glp help me here-- didn't Russia sorta threaten us a year ago with

Does anyone remember about a year ago when Russia threatened us ( sort of) with their "weather machine" ? Like they can create a horrible disaster for us as in mass casualties in a matter of minutes if they wanted. If this is the case why threaten nukes? This isn't anyone's planet to destroy long term. At least with weather it may change the surface of earth but not kill it.