President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning to the West on Wednesday, asserting readiness to deploy these weapons if Russia sovereignty faced any threats. Throughout Russia’s two-year offensive in Ukraine, the Kremlin has consistently highlighted its nuclear prowess. Last month, it issued warnings to Western nations, cautioning of the genuine risk of a nuclear catastrophe should they escalate the conflict.
Putin’s recent remarks coincide with the upcoming elections in Russia, widely expected to secure him another six years in power. They also come at a time when Russia’s military has been making advances in Ukraine. Russia possesses approximately 6,000 nuclear weapons, making it the world’s largest nuclear arsenal. These weapons can be launched from various platforms, including land-based missiles, submarines, or aircraft.
The destructive yield of Russian nuclear weapons varies significantly, ranging from hundreds of kilotons of TNT to so-called “tactical” nuclear weapons, typically ranging from about 10 to 100 kilotons.
Despite being labeled as “smaller” nuclear weapons, the use of even one such weapon would result in catastrophic humanitarian consequences. To put it into perspective, the bomb that devastated Hiroshima and claimed the lives of approximately 140,000 people by the end of 1945 had a yield of 15 kilotons, which is comparable to some of the smallest weapons in the Russian arsenal.
Russia’s Nuclear Arsenal
Russia, inheriting the Soviet Union’s nuclear weapons, possesses the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear warheads. President Putin controls approximately 5,580 nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Among these, around 1,200 warheads are retired but still operational, while approximately 4,380 are stockpiled for use by long-range strategic launchers and shorter-range tactical nuclear forces, as per FAS.
Strategic Deployment
Of the stockpiled warheads, 1,710 strategic warheads are deployed, including those on land-based ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and heavy bomber bases. These numbers indicate the capacity for significant destruction, allowing Moscow to potentially devastate the world multiple times over.
What is Tactical Nuclear Weapon?
A tactical nuclear weapon refers to any weapon not classified as “strategic” under US-Russian arms control agreements such as SALT, SORT, and START. These weapons, when deployed in Europe, can have explosive yields of up to 300 kilotons, which is approximately 20 times greater than the bomb that devastated Hiroshima. Additionally, these weapons are sometimes referred to as “sub-strategic” or “non-strategic” nuclear weapons.
Nuclear Doctrine and Modernization
Russia’s published 2020 nuclear doctrine outlines conditions for the use of nuclear weapons, primarily in response to attacks using nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. 2022 Nuclear Posture Review highlights Russia and China’s expansion and modernization of their nuclear forces, prompting Washington to pursue arms control measures to prevent costly arms races.
Presidential Authority and Command System
President Putin holds the ultimate authority over the use of Russian nuclear weapons, facilitated by the nuclear briefcase known as “Cheget”. This briefcase serves as a communication tool, linking the president to military leaders via the secret “Kazbek” electronic command-and-control network.
Potential Response Mechanisms
In the event of a perceived strategic nuclear threat, the president can issue direct launch orders through the briefcases to command units holding nuclear codes. The “Dead Hand” or “Perimetr” system serves as a last resort, where computers would autonomously initiate nuclear strikes across Russia’s arsenal in the event of a confirmed nuclear attack.
President Putin’s warning underscores the gravity of the situation, highlighting Russia’s nuclear capabilities and the mechanisms in place for potential response. The specter of nuclear conflict adds a new dimension to the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West.
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