Russia shocks the world.. Moscow is preparing to launch small nuclear weapons from Belarus

Russia announced today that it has entered into an agreement with its ally, Belarus, to stockpile tactical nuclear weapons.

These non-strategic nuclear weapons are intended to be launched from the surface-to-surface Iskander missile, which has a range of 500 km, along with Su-25 aircraft, which have a combat radius of 357 km.

Small tactical nuclear weapons are also called “dirty nuclear weapons” due to their ability to cause maximum destruction within their target radius – not only military targets but also humans, animals and buildings.

“The work was organized to deploy non-strategic nuclear weapons of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Republic of Belarus,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said during a press briefing today.

“In the future, additional measures may be taken to ensure the security of the Union State and to respond to the military-political situation,” said the Russian Defense Minister.

The minister’s statement may indicate that Russia is preparing for final deterrence, that is, it will launch nuclear weapons if the very existence of the Russian state is threatened.

According to him, the “Iskander M” operational-tactical missile system, which is capable of launching missiles with nuclear warheads, was delivered to Belarus earlier.

Shoigu said: “Some of the Belarusian aircraft (Su-25) have been converted for possible use of nuclear weapons. Its soldiers have received proper training.”

Shoigu warned that more steps could be taken to protect the collective security of the two countries. He stressed that Moscow “did not give Belarus nuclear weapons” and that control over their use and deployment was “in the hands” of Russia.

Russia moves nuclear weapons near the border

Andrey Yusov, a representative of the Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate, said two days ago that Moscow had removed nuclear weapons from the Belgorod 22 facility in the area as people rushed to evacuate the building, according to Ukrainian media.

What is the response of the West?

Former CIA director and retired general David Petraeus warned in October that the United States and its allies would destroy Russian forces and equipment in Ukraine — as well as sink its fleet in the Black Sea — if nuclear weapons were used in Ukraine.

Petraeus acknowledged that the possibility of radiation spreading to NATO countries may be interpreted as an attack on a NATO member.

In response to a query about Russia’s nuclear use, US President Joe Biden said around the same time that “it would be irresponsible for me to talk about what we’re going to do or not do.”

The leaders of the G7 countries (the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, the United States, France and Japan) said: “We deplore Russia’s deliberate escalatory steps, including the partial mobilization of reservists and the irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, which puts global peace and security at risk.” . We reaffirm that any Russian use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons will be met with serious consequences.

Damage caused by small nuclear weapons

The latest US General Intelligence Estimates estimate that Russia has as many as 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons in its stockpile. On the other hand, the United States has just over 200.

At the start of 2023, the US Department of Defense maintained an estimated stockpile of 3,708 nuclear warheads for delivery to ballistic missiles and aircraft, according to the Journal of Atomic Science.

The United States has the Minuteman III ICBM as well as the Trident II D5 missiles armed aboard Ohio-class submarines.

Tactical nuclear weapons are sometimes referred to as “small nukes,” although they can still cause devastating casualties and destruction. The number of nuclear warheads includes both strategic and tactical ones.

Small nukes are designed for limited strikes against specific targets that are relatively close by, such as command centers, rather than destroying cities from afar.

The explosive yield of tactical nuclear weapons can range from 1-100 kilotons, while strategic nuclear weapons can reach 1,000 kilotons. The bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 were between 12 and 21 kilotons.

Even a single nuclear weapon can destroy a city and kill most of its inhabitants. It would also cause all the horrors of Hiroshima, albeit on a smaller scale. A tactical nuclear weapon can produce deadly fireball, shock waves and radiation that can cause long-term health damage to survivors. Radioactive fallout may contaminate the air, soil, water, and food supply.