Leaked Russian Military Files Expose Unexpectedly Low 'Operational Threshold' For Nuclear Weapons: Report

Leaked Russian military documents reportedly suggest that the country is considering the use of tactical nuclear weapons in the early stages of a conflict with a major global power, possibly China.

What Happened: The classified papers, dating from 2008 to 2014, outline various scenarios for war gaming and presentations for naval officers, Financial Times reported on Wednesday. They also discuss the operational principles for the use of nuclear weapons.

These documents, which experts have verified, indicate a lower threshold for using tactical nuclear weapons than Russia has publicly acknowledged. The criteria for a potential nuclear response ranges from an enemy incursion on Russian territory to more specific triggers, such as the destruction of a significant portion of Russia’s strategic ballistic missile submarines.

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The files also reveal Russia’s deep-seated suspicions of China despite their growing alliance. Exercises held by Russia’s eastern military district depict multiple scenarios of a Chinese invasion.

“This is the first time that we have seen documents like this reported in the public domain,” said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin.

“They show that the operational threshold for using nuclear weapons is pretty low if the desired result can't be achieved through conventional means.”

Why It Matters: The revelation of Russia’s tactical nuclear weapon plans adds a new layer of complexity to global geopolitical tensions, particularly in light of recent intelligence reports about Russia’s alleged development of a nuclear-powered device for satellite electronics disruption. Additionally, the U.S. has raised concerns about Russia potentially deploying nuclear devices in space, which could pose a significant threat to global security.

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