Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly hinted that, if the territorial integrity of his country is threatened, he could resort to nuclear weapons.
“I want to remind you that our country has at its disposal various weapons of mass destruction,” he said recently, adding: “This is not a bluff.”
Russian officials have also warned of the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons after suffering major military setbacks during the invasion of Ukraine. Sky News. But what kind of nuclear weapons does Russia actually have and what damage could they do?
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How many nuclear weapons does Russia have?
According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia has a total inventory of 5,977 nuclear warheads – the largest in the world.
By comparison, the US has 5,428, France 290 and the UK 225.
About 90 percent of all nuclear warheads in the world are owned by Russia and the United States.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists states that the Russian arsenal includes 4,447 warheads, of which 1,588 are deployed on ballistic missiles and heavy bomber bases. They say there are “approximately an additional 977 strategic warheads, along with 1,912 non-strategic warheads” held in reserve.
However, experts said the exact number of warheads and weapons was unknown due to secrecy surrounding security strategies and concerns.
What kind of threat do those weapons pose to Ukraine and the world?
The intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that Russia possesses have the ability to reach and destroy major global cities such as London or Washington.
ICBMs can reach top speed around 10 minutes after launch, meaning one fired from Russia could reach, say, the UK in just 20 minutes.
In March, Putin raised alarm around the world after he put his nuclear deterrent forces on high alert.
At that time, defense expert General Sir Richard Barrons he told Sky News that Putin had upped the ante and had begun to insinuate nuclear weapons on a global scale. He added that other equipment capable of firing smaller weapons would still destroy their target.
For example, the 2S7 gun – caliber 203 mm – has a range of about 37 km and fires a shell weighing 110 kg.
Barrons added: “It can also fire a nuclear shell with a yield of about one kiloton – a thousand tonnes of TNT equivalent.”
Will Russian stocks change?
The Russians are continuing a comprehensive modernization program to replace most of the weapons inherited from the Soviet era. They also introduce new types of weapons.
Hans M. Kristensen and Matt Kordawriting in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, stated: “As of early 2022, we estimate that Russia has a stockpile of approximately 4,477 nuclear warheads intended for use by long-range strategic launchers and shorter-range tactical nuclear-powered missiles, a slight decrease from last year.”
“Of the stockpiled warheads, approximately 1,588 strategic warheads are deployed: About 812 on land-based ballistic missiles, about 576 on submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and possibly 200 on heavy bomber bases.”
The bulletin also states that as of February 23, “some of the Russian delivery vehicles deployed near Ukraine are considered dual-capable, meaning they can be used to launch either conventional or nuclear weapons.”
What would be the expected procedure if Russia launched a nuclear weapon?
The president of the country, the minister of defense or the chief of the General Staff must give permission through what is called Čeget – nuclear coffin.
Russia’s nuclear doctrine allows for the use of what are known as tactical nuclear weapons – a limited nuclear explosion – that can be used in a conventional conflict to force an enemy to retreat.
Strategic nuclear weapons can hit much more distant targets, such as the US.
Tactical nuclear weapons are the term used for those deployed on the battlefield, such as the one in Ukraine.
What is happening globally with the amount of nuclear weapons?
Other countries are buying or developing their own new missiles, driven by security concerns and a desire to reduce dependence on other suppliers.
Before the decade is out, Asia in particular will be full of conventional missiles that fly farther and faster, hit harder, and will be more sophisticated than ever before. China is mass-producing its DF-26 – a multipurpose weapon with a range of up to 4,000 km. The US is developing new weapons to counter Beijing in the Pacific. Taiwan and Japan are also strengthening their missile capabilities as well as defense systems designed to counter missile threats.
The Federation of American Scientists claims that at the beginning of 2022, nine countries possessed about 12,700 warheads.
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