Ukraine fears Russia will use tactical nuclear weapons against them in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The latest CIA analysis casts doubt on it, although Russia's nuclear technology is no joke.
CIA Director William Burns told the Financial Times on Saturday that results from US intelligence said there was no practical evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin would use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. However, Putin does not want to lose for that the US must remain focused on the potential nuclear threat.
"We don't see, as the intelligence community, practical evidence at this point that Russia is planning to use tactical nuclear weapons," Burns said.
Previously, it was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who said Russia would use nuclear weapons. This statement makes Western countries worried. Is Zelensky exaggerating?
The Kremlin also rebutted. They said they would not deploy nuclear weapons to a neighboring country.
"Russia adheres to the principle that there is no winner in nuclear war and it should not be used," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexei Zaitsev.
From a technological perspective, Russia's nuclear capabilities are no joke. Russia has more than 700 nuclear warheads. If there is a nuclear attack on Russia or if there is a nuclear threat against the Russian state, they will retaliate.
Unlike the warhead types mounted on Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, tactical nuclear weapons are smaller. Such weapons are low-power devices that can be dropped from aircraft, mounted on short-range missiles or fired from artillery. Its size is 1-100 kilotons.
