Putin’s nuclear arsenal exposed as world ‘on brink of armageddon’ over Ukraine crisis

As of January 2021, the Kremlin had an estimated 6,257 nuclear weapons in its arsenal, according to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Meanwhile, the US has almost 1,000 fewer, possessing 5,550. Now, there are fears the countries may dig into those stockpiles as Russia looks poised to invade Ukraine. This fear was sparked by a reported build-up of 100,000 Russian troops stationed at Ukraine’s border.

And some stark warnings have been issued on both sides as the West scrambles to discourage an attack.

Joe Biden has said 8,500 troops are on “high alert”.

But other reports say Mr Biden is considering deploying up to 50,000 troops along with aircraft and warships to eastern Europe to counter a Russia.

The US is also reportedly in talks with the UK as they consider banning Russia from the SWIFT payment system.

If Russian banks were pulled from the electronic payment system, economists have warned this would deal a significant blow to the Russian economy.

Mr Putin then responded by threatening to cut off Europe’s gas supply if the West was to draw the first move.

And while a nuclear attack has been considered unlikely by some experts, others are not completely ruling this out either

Russian analyst Andrei Ostalskisaid he thought Russia’s plans could even go as far as a ”‘nuclear Armageddon”, and predict that a Russian invasion was invasion “highly likely”.

He told BBC News: “I think it’s kind of a bluff that they found Russian deputies and political commentators openly discussing now that if push comes to shove then Mr Putin will be prepared even to bring the world through the brink of nuclear armageddon.”

This comes after Mr Biden reportedly sent spy planes to the Russia-Ukraine border to see if Russia was considering deploying nuclear weapons.

READ MORE: Putin could cut UK’s Internet in Days amid Ukraine tensions

The New York Times reported that the US Air Force has been flying RC-135 Rivet Joint planes to eavesdrop on Russian ground commanders’ communications.

But Mr Putin has indeed been warned that he will face “massive consequences” if he launches any more acts of military aggression.

And scientists who operate the Doomsday Clock believe a nightmare situation may be close.

A panel from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists have left the Doomsday Clock at 100 seconds to midnight — midnight being the point at which humanity faces hypothetical global catastrophe.

In its history, the clock has been moved backwards and forwards 24 times, the farthest being 17 minutes to midnight in 1991, the nearest being today’s 100 seconds.

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Kate Hudson from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament told Express.co.uk: “Currently the hands on the Doomsday Clock stand at 100 seconds to midnight – the closest they have ever been, even at the height of the Cold War.

“The hands are so close because of the twin threats of climate catastrophe and nuclear war.

“All countries need to step back from the brink, including our own.”
Britain in fact has 225 nuclear weapons in its arsenal.

Ms Hudson warned: “Last year the Prime Minister announced an increase in our nuclear arsenal. This adds to the danger and encourages other countries to get nukes.”

The clock was first created in 1947 by a group of international researchers called the Chicago Atomic Scientists.

These were the same scientist who took part in the Manhattan Project, which produced the first ever nuclear weapons.

And the UK has reportedly shipped thousands of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine this in a bid likely to support Ukraine in case of an invasion.

Commenting on the news, Russia’s London embassy tweeted: “It is crystal clear that UK shipment of lethal weapons to Ukraine will only fuel the crisis and increase tensions.”