Foreign Media Discuss Possibility of 'Nuclear Weapons' as a Game-Changing Card
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jin-ho] Amid reports that Russia, which invaded Ukraine, has been struggling for over a month, concerns have resurfaced that Russian President Vladimir Putin might resort to the 'nuclear weapons' card to turn the tide.
According to major foreign media on the 30th, President Putin and other senior Russian government officials are reportedly maintaining heightened alert levels for nuclear weapons units.
Foreign media analyze that while the likelihood of Russia using nuclear weapons in this war is low, considering the stalemate in the war and President Putin's political predicament, it is not entirely impossible. According to Russian military doctrine, there is a provision that nuclear weapons can be used in response not only to nuclear threats but also to conventional forces if there is a 'threat to the existence of the state.'
Earlier, on the 5th, President Putin stated that he would regard the ultra-high-intensity sanctions imposed by the West as a declaration of war against Russia. Therefore, if Russia judges the escalating Western sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine as a 'threat to its existence,' there is speculation that the use of nuclear weapons cannot be completely ruled out.
In particular, some argue that considering Russian officials' claims that Ukraine attempted to create a so-called 'dirty bomb' using radioactive materials from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Russia might use nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
Currently, Russia is estimated to have 1,588 nuclear warheads deployed and 2,889 in reserve.
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