Even at the beginning of the Russian war of aggression, the Kremlin showed its determination to use its nuclear arsenal if Russia’s security was threatened. According to experts, the risk of nuclear weapons actually being dropped is greater than since the Cold War. In Russia itself, attempts are now being made to create uncertainty with the “terrible weapon”.
The Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile rises straight from the shaft of the Plesetsk cosmodrome into the Russian skies. She draws a long trail of fire behind her. This is accompanied by action music. In the background, state television station Rossiya 24 is excited about a new “terrible weapon”, the pride of Russian missile builders, a “reliable protection of the country against any attack from outside”.
Russia shows off nuclear arsenal
With the 40-minute documentary, which aired on state television on Sunday before the National Day, the nuclear power not only emphasized its independence, but also showed its weapons of mass destruction. The Sarmat has a range of 18,000 kilometers and can be equipped with nuclear warheads. This allows Russia to reach almost all destinations in the world via both the North and South Poles.
“Aggressive” Comments
Filmmaker Alexander Rogatkin’s documentary gave an unusual insight into the life of the Strategic Missile Forces, who have been on alert for three and a half months as part of the war of aggression against Ukraine. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin issued such an order for the first time in more than 20 years in power – as a warning to NATO not to intervene. He cited “aggressive” statements by leaders of NATO states as the reason. Putin spoke of “self-defense”.
Putin “forces” to think
At the end of April, he underlined that he was serious about the possible use of nuclear weapons. He demonstrably had a Sarmat (NATO code name: SS-X-30 Satan 2) tested. “It really is a unique weapon,” Putin said. For a long time nothing will be equal in the world. The missile could go into series production despite all international sanctions – and “provoke thought to those who seek to threaten our country in the fervor of hard-hitting, aggressive rhetoric”.
West tries to smooth out waves
The United States was annoyed at the choice of words, but otherwise remained calm – like the rest of NATO. They don’t want to give the Russians an excuse to stir things up even more. The Stockholm peace research institute Sipri, meanwhile, sees an increased risk of the use of nuclear weapons in view of the war in Ukraine. So this danger is less in the use of such weapons in Ukraine, but rather in the fact that the war could escalate into a confrontation between Russia and NATO.
Tensions between Russia and NATO have increased the risk of a nuclear confrontation, says SIPRI expert Hans M. Kristensen. There are also conflicts elsewhere in the world. “So it’s fair to say we’re in a very precarious situation right now.” An indirect consequence of the war is the Russian realization that their conventional forces are not as good as they thought. As a result, Russia is likely to rely more heavily on tactical nuclear weapons in the future.
Lavrov: nuclear war threat is “real”
As the new Sipri annual report shows, Russia (5977) and the US (5428) still have about 90 percent of all the world’s nuclear warheads. Most importantly, what is needed now is a relaxation of nuclear rhetoric, Kristensen said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also described the danger of nuclear war as real. Russia always emphasizes that, unlike the United States, it has no right of first attack in its military doctrine. But confidence has been shattered since the invasion of Ukraine.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
