Human Lives Human Rights: Following the outbreak of war in Eastern Europe by Russia and the support of some world nuclear powers such as the United States, Britain and France for Ukraine, the question of the issue of the possibility of using nuclear weapons in this war has intensified, and many analysts do not take into account the use of weapons containing depleted uranium or even tactical nuclear weapons, but the question is, under what circumstances will Russia use its nuclear weapons?
Asked if Russia would rule out a preemptive tactical nuclear strike on Ukraine, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said that a decision on the possible use of nuclear weapons was clearly set out in Russia’s military doctrine, RIA reported.
“We have a military doctrine – everything is written there,” Alexander Grushko was quoted by state news agency RIA Novosti, as saying.
Russia publicly expanded on the circumstances under which it might employ nuclear weapons in a policy document on nuclear deterrence signed by President Vladimir Putin on June 2, 2020.
The 2020 document, called “Basic Principles of State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence,” lists a number of threats that Russia might face and circumstances under which it might consider the use of nuclear weapons.
According to the document, in the following cases, the Russian president is allowed to order an attack with nuclear weapons:
- When it has received “reliable data on a launch of ballistic missiles attacking the territory of the Russian Federation and/or its allies”
- The “use of nuclear weapons or other types of weapons of mass destruction by an adversary against the Russian Federation and/or its allies.”
- Following an “attack by adversary against critical governmental or military sites of the Russian Federation, disruption of which would undermine nuclear forces response actions” and
- “Aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy.”
According to the document, Russia could use its nuclear weapons if Russia’s vital interests are at stake, but the next question is who will bear the consequences of such a war?
In the event of a nuclear attack in this war, extensive levels of radioactive contamination will engulf Eastern Europe, and the world has not yet forgotten the bitter memories of catastrophes such as Hiroshima, Nagasaki and, of course, Chernobyl.
However, what increases the risk of using nuclear weapons is the possibility of a nuclear war, and the risk of such a war will increase if the key to using these weapons is in the hands of a crazy dictator.
In addition, if Russia uses its nuclear weapons against Ukraine, one of Ukraine’s supporters, like the United States, may launch retaliatory attacks, in that case, we have to admit that the end of the world has come, because there will be practically no definite victory for the end of the nuclear war.
