Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that if the country’s territorial integrity is threatened, all measures will be taken to protect the country and its people, The Economic Times reports.
The Russian President further added that this was not a bluff. This statement was made during a televised address to the nation.
Vladimir Putin also said to the West that he owns many destructive weapons. The UK’s Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace, reacted as he said no amount of threats could disguise Ukraine’s win in this war.
Russia owns intercontinental ballistic missiles. Intercontinental ballistic missiles fired from Russia can reach the UK within twenty minutes. ICBMs can reach various places and have enough destruction power to destroy cities like London.
A defense expert, General Sir Richard Bdefens, said three hundred kilotonnes of warheads could destroy big cities like Paris and Washington.
He added that Ukraine’s stakes are global now, and even small weapons can bring massive destruction to the set targets.
Nuclear weapons in Russia’s possession
According to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Russia’s weapon stockpile contains approximately 4,447 warheads. Among these warheads, 1,588 are stationed at heavy bomber bases.
Russia also reserves about 977 strategic warheads and 1,912 non-strategic warheads. The country has an enormous inventory of 5,977 nuclear warheads, and the US has an inventory of 5,428 nuclear warheads, per the Federation of American Scientists.
Due to security concerns, the exact number of nuclear weapons and warheads remains unknown.
Has Russia’s nuclear stock undergone any changes recently?
According to Hans M. Kristensen and Matt Korda, as of early 2022, Russia has 4,477 nuclear warheads for use in its nuclear stockpile. This nuclear arsenal consists of long-range strategic launchers and shorter-range tactical nuclear forces.
Russia has upgraded and replaced the weapons of the Soviet Era through comprehensive modernisation. In the Bulletin, many Russian delivery vehicles are stationed near Ukraine, which can be used to launch nuclear and conventional weapons.
Russia currently deploys one thousand five hundred eighty-eight strategic warheads, 576 on submarine-launched ballistic missiles and 812 on land-based ballistic missiles.
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