Russia has announced the start of the first stage of exercises on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. The exercise will involve the use of Iskander and Kinzhal missiles, the Russian Ministry of Defence said.
The Russian Federation plans to rehearse the task of equipping ammunition for Iskander missiles and covertly moving to the place of preparation for missile launches. At the same time, the Russian Aerospace Forces will equip aircraft, including the Kinzhal missiles.
Use of non-strategic nuclear weapons in the Russian Federation
In a commentary to ICTV, military analyst, Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Petro Chernyk explained that the Russian occupiers cannot win on the battlefield, and that F-16 fighters are on the way, which can actually change the battlefield.
– “The Americans are seriously considering permission to fire ATACMS missiles at Russian territory. And when they have a bunch of big problems, they pull out the nuclear baton. It makes sense. There is nothing unexpected or extraordinary,” he said.
According to him, Russia has problems only with mine-based strategic weapons – R-36M and UR-100N.
– “Those that are in the mines. There are 74 missiles, 74 launchers. The silos are those that are aimed at the United States. This is a real problem. And no one knows what their condition is. Why? The engines of all these missiles were serviced by our Pivdenmash enterprise. Since 2014, I think they have been in a very bad state. And tactical nuclear weapons are primarily artillery shells. 2C5 Hyacinth 152-mm, 2C7 Peony. And there is even a 2C4 Tulip 240-mm active-reactive missile. These are primarily nuclear weapons,” the analyst explained.
Mr Chernyk pointed out that Russia’s Iskander missile systems with a range of up to 500 km are in adequate condition. It can carry a warhead of up to 50 kilotons.
– Not to mention the X-102 as a continuation of the X-101 missile, only in a nuclear version of up to 1 megaton. What is missing from this? Nothing. It is in an adequate condition. I do not share the view that their tactical nuclear weapons are rusty. They are of a design and quality that can be in a state of readiness for decades,” he said.
Doomsday Clock
According to Petro Chernyk, the threats have become real since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
– The doomsday clock has been moved forward by 30 seconds. In 1945, when the first nuclear warhead exploded, an intellectual concept was invented that it is conditionally 24:00, night, nuclear apocalypse. This is when people will destroy themselves with nuclear weapons.
Back when the nuclear crisis was raging in the Caribbean, particularly in Cuba, the doomsday clock was two minutes away from the apocalypse. This was despite the fact that the Soviet R-12 missiles had already been brought into a combat position. It was a matter of hours. Kennedy was smart enough to solve this problem with the mediation of the Roman Catholic Church. This was despite the fact that Khrushchev was not in danger, and the Soviet Union had no prerequisites for collapse,” recalled Chernyk.
The military expert noted that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is under real threat. He suggested that the Russian president would lose the war against Ukraine and be assassinated by his entourage.
– And Putin is a threat. If he loses this war, he will be killed by his own people. And when he loses this war, we will fully and conditionally return to the borders of 1991. The Russian Federation will begin to fall apart. They are in real danger. The clock has already been set forward by 30 seconds,” emphasised Chernyk.
