I don't think that the target receiver of that thread was NATO, nor any other entity outside of Russia, but the Russian population instead.

Propaganda 1x1: Build up an external aggressive foe (even if fictional) to make your population united behind you and allow implementing otherwise unthinkable drastic domestic measures.

Some did.

But with the amount of "threats" putin made about dropping nukes, it is quite clear that it is nothing more than a bad attempt to scare.

Cause they know that if they ever dared to drop a nuke, they would get a retaliation from every corner of the planet.

a threat to solitary, intersection, mutual aid, and energy independence.