What are tactical nuclear weapons and why did Russia order drills?
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday that the military would hold drills involving tactical nuclear weapons — the first time such an exercise has been publicly announced by Moscow.
A look at tactical nuclear weapons and the part they play in the Kremlin’s political messaging.
WHAT ARE TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS?
Unlike nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles that can destroy entire cities, tactical nuclear weapons for use against troops on the battlefield are less powerful and can have a yield as small as about 1 kiloton. The U.S. bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II was 15 kilotons.
Such battlefield nuclear weapons — aerial bombs, warheads for short-range missiles or artillery munitions — can be very compact. Their small size allows them to be discreetly carried on a truck or plane.
Unlike strategic weapons, which have been subject to arms control agreements between Moscow and Washington, tactical weapons never have been limited by any such pacts, and Russia hasn’t released their numbers or any other specifics related to them.
Related articles
With college football drama behind him, Devontez Walker eager to show his talent with Baltimore
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — There was a point last season when Devontez Walker, sidelined amid a conten2024-05-08Commentary: Xi's meeting with Ma injects positive energy to relations across Taiwan Strait
(Xinhua) 08:01, April 12, 2024Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central2024-05-08China committed to developing traditional friendly cooperation with DPRK: top legislator
PYONGYANG, April 12 (Xinhua) -- It has always been the steadfast strategic policy of the Communist P2024-05-08- This photo taken on April 7, 2024 shows the construction site of the China-aided Neela Bagh Housing2024-05-08
Woman, 62, is left baffled as she turns up to a hospital scan only to be told she's already dead
A baffled woman turned up to a hospital scan only to be told by staff that she'd already died. Susan2024-05-08Roadside drug testing still a priority for government
File pic Photo: Supplied / Drug Detection Agency2024-05-08
atest comment