Russia May Still Have An Automated Nuclear Launch System Aimed Across The Northern Hemisphere

JEREMY BENDER businessinsider.com Anxiety over a nuclear exchange between super powers seems out of place in a post-Cold War world where conflicts are usually fought within states, rather than between them. But despite the changing nature of the times, nuclear weapons continue to play a central role in Russian military strategy. Last week, as thousands of Russian troops streamed into Ukraine, Putin issued a statement reminding the world that Russia was a nuclear-armed power. "Russia is one of the most powerful nuclear nations," he said. “This is a reality, not just words.” Putin is certainly playing up the threat of his strategic arsenal. This month, Russia is conducting a massive drill simulating the defense of its strategic nuclear sites that will involve more than 4,000 soldiers. And as columnist and historian Anne Applebaum recently noted, commentators in Russia are now claiming that Putin is "weighing the possibility of limited nuclear strikes" against targets in Eastern Europe, at least creating the impression that the Russian president is keeping his options open. businessinsider.com