Russia will make changes to its doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons in response to what it regards as Western escalation in the war in Ukraine, state media quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Sunday.

The existing nuclear doctrine, set out in a decree by President Vladimir Putin in 2020, says Russia may use nuclear weapons in the event of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack that threatens the existence of the state.

Some hawks among Russia’s military analysts have urged Putin to lower the threshold for nuclear use in order to “sober up” Russia’s enemies in the West.

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  • Sundial@lemm.eeEnglish
    748·
    4 months ago

    The problem is Russia has the very real capability of really screwing up a good chunk of the world before they get wiped off the map. It’s kind of scary if im being honest.

    • andyburke@fedia.io
      625·
      4 months ago

      I would have believed you a few years ago.

      At this point I think Putin has to have serious doubts that he could use a nuke and have it actually work. He’s up against both western tech and his own corruption.

      • Cosmonauticus@lemmy.worldEnglish
        143·
        4 months ago

        Yeah the problem is he only needs one to work. Even if it’s a dud Russia being nuked into oblivion will have long term ramifications for the entire globe

        • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.worldEnglish
          5·
          4 months ago

          We don’t have to Nuke Moscow, to effectively nuke Moscow. We invented the MOAB just to be able to do that. They have to rely on the dirty version.

        • Breezy@lemmy.worldEnglish
          41·
          4 months ago

          Yeah but it might humble the rest of the world a bit. No one will want to be next.

    • odelikEnglish
      443·
      4 months ago

      Do they really?

      They made a lot of claims about their military capabilities. However their war with Ukraine has shown those to largely be lies propped up to hide that their oligarchs have emezzled the money.

      I’m starting to wonder how nuclear capable they actually are these days.

      • yeather@lemmy.caEnglish
        11·
        4 months ago

        Of all the things Russia has spent money on, I have no doubts they have kept most of their nuclear arsenal in working condition. Even if they spent $0 on their military they would find a way to keep the nukes in working order.

    • cynar@lemmy.worldEnglish
      211·
      4 months ago

      Nukes and ICBMs are extremely complex devices. They also require extremely specialist servi e work to remain functional. Even worse, the only people who can actually check that work are the ones doing it.

      Russia hasn’t detonated a nuke in decades. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of their arsenal are now duds. The money embezzled, while boxes were ticked. Similarly, I wouldn’t be surprised if many of their ICBMs just wouldn’t launch.

      Russia’s nuclear capabilities are likely a paper tiger, and Putin likely knows this. Until they try and use them, they are scary. If they try and they fail, they are in a VERY bad situation.

      Putin is many things, but he’s not stupid. It would take a LOT more pressure from nato for him to even consider using nukes.

      • jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        9·
        4 months ago

        It’s kind of funny to me that a significant reason Russia is in its current predicament is because of rampant corruption. Putin runs the country like a Mafia state and then gets all surprised Pikachu Face when it becomes apparent that his underlings just stole all the money instead of using it to maintain their weapons stockpile, which is now aging and dilapidated.