Russia can launch a nuclear weapon from land, sea and air. The exact number and locations of the weapons are secret.
Russian threats of the use of nuclear weapons are taken more and more seriously. On Thursday, the President of the United States Joe Biden characterized the threat of nuclear war now at its highest level since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
Intimidation with nuclear weapons is taken seriously, as the destructive power of modern weapons is significantly greater than before. The United States and Russia have a total of more than 10,000 nuclear weapons. However, the exact number and location of the weapons is kept a secret. Estimates of the amounts are based on, for example, historical data and random data leaks.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin has spoken especially about the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Tactical nuclear weapons have a lower range and explosive power than strategic nuclear weapons. They are designed for battlefield use against, for example, bunkers, airfields and other larger military targets.
In addition to tactical weapons, Russia has strategic nuclear weapons capable of total destruction. Strategic nuclear weapons are intended to destroy significant targets, such as large cities, command centers, and the enemy’s nuclear missiles.
A lot, versatile, of central importance in terms of foreign and security policy. This is how a defense analyst from the Swedish Research Institute (FOI) describes Russia’s nuclear weapons Jonas Kjellén.
Familiar with nuclear safety Federation of American Scientists – think tank, at the beginning of the year, Russia had an estimated 5,977 nuclear warheads, of which 1,500 have been decommissioned. Of the remaining 4,477, 1,588 are immediately available strategic warheads.
Russia’s strategic nuclear missiles can be launched from land, sea and air. Of the nuclear warheads, 812 can be used in land-launched intercontinental missiles. 576 can be placed on submarines, and about 200 are intended for aircraft.
In addition to this, Russia has approximately 977 strategic nuclear warheads and 1,912 tactical nuclear warheads in its stockpiles.
According to Kjellén, Russia could launch its nuclear weapons in just a few minutes if it wanted to: “Readiness is high and a certain number of strategic nuclear weapons are always available, should a nuclear attack target Russia.”
Read more: Russia has been warned of “crushing” actions if Putin were to use a nuclear weapon
Russian the exact location of the nuclear weapons is unknown. However, according to Kjellén, something about the location can be said based on the research institute’s analysis.
Most of Russia’s strategic nuclear arsenal consists of either silo missiles or missiles mounted on a mobile platform with an intercontinental range.
“These are located in the central parts of Russia,” says Kjellén.
Russian nuclear submarines are located in Kola in the west and Kamchatka in the east. If the rest of Russia’s nuclear arsenal were to come under attack, submarines can be kept hidden in the depths of the sea.
“They ensure that losses can still be inflicted on the enemy.”
Bombers have the advantage that they can be quickly deployed to air bases around Russia.
There are tactical Iskander missiles in the nearby areas of Finland, at least at the Luga missile base south of St. Petersburg. The Iskander is a short-range ballistic missile that can be equipped with a nuclear warhead. The range of the Iskander missile is approximately 400–500 kilometers.
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