The war in Ukraine has resulted in the first serious consideration of Russia’s use of tactical nuclear weapons on the battlefield, with the country’s most senior officials, chief among them Vice President Medvedev, repeatedly warning from start of the war to press the red button of Nuclear Armageddon.
Russia has reportedly developed an advanced ground-based nuclear detonation simulator designed to provide a visual simulation of key visual indicators, including the shock wave, radiation and mushroom cloud resulting from a ground-based nuclear detonation.
Russian scientists at the Military Academy of Logistics, named after General A.V. Khrulev, have developed a state-of-the-art simulator for ground-based nuclear explosions, according to the state-run TASS news agency.
This recently patented simulator is designed to revolutionize the training of military units, particularly those within the ground forces, for combat operations in environments involving the use of nuclear weapons.
The patent describes the primary objective of the simulator as providing a realistic visual representation of critical elements associated with a terrestrial nuclear explosion,
The technology is poised to be incorporated into military unit exercises and field training. This has the potential to substantially improve the readiness of land forces for engagements in nuclear weapons scenarios.
In addition, the application of the simulator is extended to units specializing in radiation. The report suggests that it will play a vital role in improving the capabilities of these units, helping to determine the parameters of the explosion and allowing the precise localization of the epicenter.
The patent filing highlights that the new simulator addresses the limitations of its predecessor, the IU-59 nuclear explosion simulator, which has become obsolete and is no longer in production.
Existing IU-59 samples in military stockpiles have also reached the end of their technical life, which makes them unsuitable for operational use.
Additionally, the patent document sheds light on another previously considered alternative, the IAB-500 dummy bomb.
However, this option was deemed impractical due to its limited scope and the significant financial challenges associated with its use for training military units in radiation, chemical and biological reconnaissance.
“In addition, the IAB-500 model was withdrawn from service in 1984 and is no longer produced by industrial enterprises,” the report states.
Russia’s Nuclear Readiness and the Confrontation with the USA
Moscow’s unveiling of an advanced simulator for ground-based nuclear explosions came amid heightened tensions with the US-led NATO. This comes days after Russia rejected a US proposal to restart nuclear arms control talks, citing the difficult environment created by continued US support for Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed the proposal to resume negotiations as “unacceptable”, stressing the need for Washington to reassess its stance on Russia’s conflict with Ukraine before meaningful discussions can take place.
The dispute over the renewed talks raises concerns about a possible new arms race, especially as the New START treaty, signed by former presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev in 2010, is scheduled to expire in 2026.
The treaty places limits on US and Russian nuclear weapons, while allowing for on-site inspections to verify compliance. However, these inspections stopped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have not yet been repeated.
Last February, Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended Russia’s participation in the START treaty, citing perceived “hypocrisy and cynicism” from the US and NATO regarding their support for Ukraine.
As the Biden administration continues its unwavering support for Ukraine, making billions in aid available, it faces opposition from some Republicans in Congress who demand a link between foreign aid and tougher border policies.
Meanwhile, the introduction of the ground-based nuclear detonation simulator marks a major improvement in training Russian soldiers for combat operations in nuclear weapons scenarios.
In the context of the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Moscow is demonstrating the readiness of its nuclear forces.
In October 2023, Russia conducted “massive” retaliatory nuclear strike drills that included missile launches from land silos, a nuclear submarine and long-range bombers, all overseen by President Vladimir Putin.
The drills were intended to practice responding to a hypothetical enemy-launched nuclear strike, demonstrating Russia’s strategic offensive capabilities.
The importance of non-strategic nuclear weapons for Russia
The ongoing war in Ukraine has undermined Russia’s confidence in its conventional military capabilities. This shift in perception has elevated the importance of non-strategic nuclear weapons (NSNW) to Moscow, emerging as a key strategy for both deterring and countering NATO in potential future conflicts.
The targets of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine
The use of tactical nuclear weapons on the battlefield is done in order to serve military purposes, such as, possibly, the fragmentation of the enemy’s defensive location, the destruction of his forces either in a line or in reserve, as well as the prohibition of his use of a specific direction either counterattacking or reinforcing the forward sections
Our assessment is that Putin will not resort to the use of nuclear tactics except for a spectacular unexpected development.
In such a case, although we consider it very extreme nonetheless, he might have resorted to the use of a low-power tactical nuclear weapon, causing either an aerial high-explosion aimed at destroying Ukrainian telecommunications, or a very low-power surface or aerial low-explosion, in an area evacuated of civilian population, on the back of front-line Ukrainian combat units, prohibiting the use of the area by Ukrainian reserves.
