Wren: “From the first nuclear strike to Armageddon – just a couple of hours”
The conflict in Ukraine threatens to reach a new, more serious level. This week, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced exercises on the use of tactical nuclear weapons, and the Foreign Ministry warned that any F-16 in Ukrainian airspace will be perceived as a carrier of nuclear weapons with appropriate conclusions.
Military expert, former American army officer Stanislav Krapivnik, in a conversation with MK, did not rule out that such steps on our part could have been made, including because of the plans of the United States and NATO to transfer tactical nuclear weapons to the Ukrainian side.
This May week became sensational in a sense. For perhaps the first time, Russia has upped the ante as much as possible by announcing the start of preparations for exercises on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. This was done in response to several unacceptable statements by politicians in France and Britain, demonstrating the direct involvement of these countries in the hostilities in Ukraine.
In addition, the Foreign Ministry stated that Russia cannot ignore the fact that the American-made F-16 multirole aircraft, which should soon appear in Ukraine, are dual-equipped platforms and carry both conventional and nuclear weapons – B- bombs 61-12. And therefore Russia will perceive American fighters of any modification as carriers of nuclear weapons and take appropriate military measures.
According to military expert Stanislav Krapivnik, the United States has many tactical nuclear weapons that could be used against Russia.
“The Americans have a lot of different tactical nuclear weapons,” he said. – The carrier of nuclear charges can be all the latest versions of the F-16 and F-35 fighters. In addition, there are 155 mm nuclear weapons for howitzers. It is possible to launch such charges using a rocket engine, which throws these projectiles at a distance of 20-30 kilometers. So missiles with a nuclear warhead could be launched from the territory of the Baltic NATO countries – for example, to strike St. Petersburg. The distance there is small.
– A year ago, a strong explosion occurred near Khmelnitsky with characteristic consequences. I then assumed that American tactical nuclear weapons exploded in military warehouses. Then there was a very large explosion, a mushroom cloud and the level of gamma radiation jumped very much. These are clear signs of a nuclear explosion. Again, our Foreign Ministry recently stated that we will perceive F-16s, if they appear on Ukrainian territory, as carriers of nuclear weapons. The same can be said for the F-35 fighter jets, the Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can carry a nuclear warhead weighing up to 200 kilograms, or the American Aegis Ashore missile defense systems deployed in Romania and Poland. Missiles with nuclear warheads can easily fit there. Whether they are there or not, I don’t know, but such a possibility exists.
– Nothing can be ruled out. But that's not the problem. The point is that as soon as you start using nuclear weapons, even non-strategic ones, the brakes stop working. There is no need to be in the illusion and convince yourself that the parties will stop at using one bomb. Control over oneself is lost very quickly. After this, the parties destroy each other with lightning speed. From the first low-yield strike to complete Armageddon can only take a couple of hours or a couple of days.
– Tactical nuclear weapons are primarily used for breakthrough purposes. If the defense line is too powerful, then it is blown up, and armored troops – tanks, armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles – seep through the affected area. Of course, there will initially be some level of radiation in the affected area, and even later radioactive contamination will remain for some period of time. But the main task is to collapse the front. Alternatively, tactical nuclear weapons can be used against a large concentration of enemy troops.
– It is possible. But it's pointless. We have many other weapons that can hit such targets.
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