Latest news with #WorldwideThreat
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Russia Redeploys Nuclear-Tipped Air-to-Air Missiles in Echo of Cold War
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Russia is adding nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles to its weapons inventory, according to the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The new missile is reminiscent of weapons used by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, with the latest version designed to be used by Russia's MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets. Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment by email. Why It Matters The development comes as tensions between Russia and the West are at their highest level since the Cold War as a result of President Vladimir Putin's decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The War Zone, an online military magazine, notes that while nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles were part of the Soviet Union's arsenal during the Cold War, little is known about their current status within Russia's Aerospace Forces (VKS), which "makes the disclosure from [the Defense Intelligence Agency] intelligence all the more intriguing." Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen in Sirius, Russia, on May 19, 2025. Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen in Sirius, Russia, on May 19, 2025. Contributor/Getty Images What To Know Hans Kristensen, the director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) think tank, said on X (formerly Twitter) that he'd heard rumors for years that Russia was redeploying nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles, but the "weapon was mysteriously not included in DOD pubs since 2018." The DIA's 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment, published on May 11 said Russia is "expanding its nuclear forces by adding new capabilities, including nuclear air-to-air missiles and novel nuclear systems." Nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles were originally intended for use against formations of bombers during the Cold War. Such formations are not as relevant now "but not having to get within the blast-fragmentation range of a missile warhead to take down a target could be seen as advantageous in the modern era, possibly against stealthy aircraft that can be detected but are hard to lock up, especially by a small radar on a missile during its terminal attack phase," according to The War Zone. Another possibility is that nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles could be used to counter swarms of drones or waves of cruise missiles. Russia maintains a nuclear stockpile of about 1,550 deployed strategic warheads and up to 2,000 non-strategic warheads, the assessment said. Russia is expanding its nuclear posture to its neighbor and ally Belarus by establishing missile and nuclear-capable aircraft capabilities, renovating a nuclear weapons storage site, and training Belarusian crews to handle tactical nuclear weapons, the DIA said. "Throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia has used nuclearrelated rhetoric and military exercises to signal its resolve and deter Russia-perceived Western involvement in the conflict," it added. Russia has ramped up its nuclear threats throughout the war, with the most recent warning coming from Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia's Security Council, in April. Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if it faces aggression from Western nations, he told Kremlin newswire Tass. Shoigu, who was replaced as defense minister in 2024 after holding the position for 12 years, cited amendments made to Russia's nuclear doctrine in November. He said it allows Russia to "use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against it or the Republic of Belarus, including with the use of conventional weapons." "In the event of foreign states committing unfriendly actions that pose a threat to the sovereignty and territory integrity of the Russian Federation, our country considers it legitimate to take symmetric and asymmetric measures necessary to suppress such actions and prevent their recurrence," Shoigu warned. The DIA report said, however, that Russia is very unlikely to use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war "unless Russian leadership judged it faced an existential threat to the regime." What People Are Saying Russian President Vladimir Putin said in December that the Kremlin reserves the right to use nuclear weapons against any country that poses a threat to Russia or Belarus. "When we are talking about certain military dangers that can develop into new threats, we are talking about increasing the responsibility of non-nuclear states that can participate in aggression against Russia, alongside nuclear-capable countries," he said. "And if such countries pose a threat to us, we reserve the right to use our nuclear weapons against them. "We have announced that if the same threats are made against our ally, Belarus, we will do everything to ensure the security of Belarus. And I think this is a very important component of the updated nuclear doctrine." What Happens Next Developments suggest Moscow could be gearing up for a potential face off with NATO. Russia is expanding its troop presence along stretches of its western border, ramping up its military spending at a record pace and intensifying covert operations against the West. Meanwhile, intelligence and military officials have warned that NATO member states must be ready for a potential conflict with Russia.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US intelligence: Ukraine and Russia believe flawed truce is worse than war continuation, says Bloomberg
An assessment by the US Director of National Intelligence has stated that although Ukraine and Russia have shown a willingness to agree to a partial ceasefire, the leaders of both countries perceive the risks of a prolonged war as lower than those of an unsatisfactory peace settlement. Source: Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda Details: This intelligence assessment was presented on Tuesday 25 March during the Senate Intelligence Committee's hearing on the annual Worldwide Threat report, during which senior US intelligence officials testified. According to the assessment, although Kyiv and Moscow have demonstrated a willingness to test a partial ceasefire, "leaders for now probably still see the risks of a longer war as less than those of an unsatisfying settlement". Officials from the Trump administration are aiming for a cease-fire by 20 April, but Ukrainian and European officials see this as excessively ambitious, noting Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to delay the negotiations. The assessment suggests that for Putin, "positive battlefield trends allow for some strategic patience, and for Ukraine, conceding territory or neutrality to Russia without substantial security guarantees from the West could prompt domestic backlash and future insecurity". Nevertheless, both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seem to recognise the risks of a prolonged war. The assessment highlights that a drawn-out war could damage the Russian economy and lead to "undesired escalation with the West". Meanwhile, for Ukraine, the future of Western aid remains uncertain. Moscow continues to gain ground on the battlefield, with the assessment emphasising that a war of attrition favours Russia's military strength. It warns that this strategy "will lead to a gradual but steady erosion of Kyiv's position on the battlefield, regardless of any US or allied attempts to impose new and greater costs on Moscow". US intelligence also continues to see a risk that Putin could resort to nuclear weapons. "Russia's inability to achieve quick and decisive battlefield wins, coupled with Ukrainian strikes within Russia, continues to drive concerns that Putin might use nuclear weapons," the assessment notes. Background: After discussions in Saudi Arabia on 25 March, the delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement to work towards a truce in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes targeting energy infrastructure. However, Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov noted that further technical consultations are required to put these agreements into action. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
