Can Russia use 'tactical' nuclear weapons on Ukraine? What is Putin aiming at?

On February 24, Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered an unforeseen military operation in Ukraine, accusing erstwhile Soviet state of threatening safety and security of Russian Federation. Parallelly, he also accused Volodymyr Zelenskyy administration of clandestinely building a plutonium-based dirty bomb. It has been seven weeks since n and w, is a complete opposite narrative, Zelenskyy has warned world against a potential Russian nuclear attack. 

How likely is it for Putin to press nuclear button?

At present, Russia has world’s largest nuclear arsenal with almost 6,257 weapons. Appearing in a CNN interview on Friday, Zelenskyy said that world must be prepared to see Russia using tactical or low-grade nuclear weapons as, it fails to annex major cities. Zelenskyy’s remarks came days after Putin warned west of “dire consequences” in case y directly intervene in Ukraine. It was reported that KGB spy turned politician Putin has put his Nuclear Forces on alert, indirectly signaling his readiness to press nuclear button. 

However, threat of nuclear war is less likely given fact that nation wants mass destruction of its population. Despite repeated calls by Zelenskyy, west has still t agreed on imposing a -fly zone over Ukraine due to fear that, it may give Putin a reason to fire nukes. 

Is re a possibility of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine?

As war continues to escalate, military experts have said that real threat is t from “strategic” weapons that could annihilate whole planet but from “tactical weapons” that could localize destruction to prominent Ukrainian cities. A move to deploy latter kind of weapon could be aimed at breaking Ukrainian resistance, which has till w deterred Russian troops from capturing any major Ukrainian city. 

Pavel Luzin, an expert at Russia-focused think-tank Riddle, opined that first step would see a tactical weapon used over sea or an uninhabited area, as an act of intimidation. "After that, if adversary still wants to fight, it may be used against adversary directly," he said.  

As Russia continues to reiterate its wide allegations that Kyiv is developing chemical or biological weapons, threat of Putin using it as a defence for launching nukes has become imminent. " use of a weapon of mass destruction against Russia would be a doctrinal justification for responding with a nuclear weapon," said Kristin Ven Bruusgaard, an expert on Russia's nuclear doctrine at University of Oslo.

What does Putin want?

“Putin needs a victory. At least he needs something to present to his constituency at home as a victory", Andrei Kortuv, head of Russian International Affairs Council said when asked about Russian Czar’s ambition. 69-year-old started war by telling his people that Ukraine threatened safety and security of Russian Federation. He labeled subsequent offensive as 'Special Military Operation', refusing to call it an invasion or a war , and also made doing so a criminal offense. 

But, as days passed, it became clear that Putin aimed to overrun Ukraine and depose Zelenskyy administration. However, after a month of military blitz gained success, he redirected his ambition to apparent ‘liberation of eastern Donbas region.’ With Putin set to face Presidential polls in less than two years, ongoing invasion of Ukraine holds power to change course of his political career. 

(Im: AP)