Russia-Ukraine: Nuclear Weapons and all you need to know?

Nuclear Weapons are warheads or missiles as the case may be that possess strong nuclear content and effect. They are man-made, cost a fortune to produce and usually wielded by 'World Powers'. 

According to Wikipedia: "A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion reactions. Both bomb types release large quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter."

How Destructive are NUKES?

Nuclear weapons are designed to cause maximum devastation.

The extent of the destruction depends on a range of factors, including:

• the size of the warhead

• how high above the ground it detonates

• the local environment

But even the smallest warhead could cause huge loss of life and lasting consequences.

The bomb that killed up to 146,000 people in Hiroshima, Japan, during World War Two, was 15 kilo-tons.

And nuclear warheads today can be more than 1,000 kilo-tons.

Little is expected to survive in the immediate impact zone of a nuclear explosion.

After a blinding flash, there is a huge fireball and blast wave that can destroy buildings and structures for several kilometres.

'Nuclear Deterrent': meaning and workability

The argument for maintaining large numbers of nuclear weapons has been having the capacity to completely destroy your enemy would prevent them from attacking you.

The most famous term for this became mutually assured destruction (Mad).

Though there have been many nuclear tests and a constant increase in their technical complexity and destructive power, nuclear weapons have not been used in an armed confrontation since 1945.

In view of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it is worthy of note that the Russian policy also acknowledges nuclear weapons solely as a deterrent and lists four cases for their use:

• the launch of ballistic missiles attacking the territory of the Russian Federation or its allies.

• the use of nuclear weapons or other types of weapons of mass destruction against the Russian Federation or its allies.

• an attack on critical governmental or military sites of the Russian Federation that threatens its nuclear capability.

• aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy.

The Fear of Nuclear Weapons and their Devastating Effects 

The likelihood of nuclear conflict may have gone up slightly but remains still remains considerably low.

Looking at Russia for example: even if Putin's threat is meant as a warning rather than signalling any current desire to use the weapons, there is always the risk of miscalculation if one side misinterprets the other or events get out of hand.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told BBC News the UK had so far seen no change in the actual posture of Russia's nuclear weapons.

That will be watched closely, intelligence sources confirm.

SOURCES: Wikipedia, BBC NEWS