An interesting coincidence hits the satellite image: Russia is equipping a nuclear submarine in the estuary of Kuolanuon near the Finnish border.
On the missile loading dock, you can see a bridge crane stretching across the submarine, but the missiles are not visible in the picture.
A submarine can hide in the world’s seas for three months at a time, carrying up to 96 nuclear warheads. It is the strongest weapon of Russia’s nuclear deterrent.
In the closed city of Gadzhievo, it is hidden from outsiders’ eyes, but not from satellite cameras.
In this article, you can use satellite images to see for yourself Russia’s nuclear weapons bases and how they show the development of nuclear deterrence.
Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has continued for almost a year, and at the same time Russia’s nuclear threats have become regrettably common.
Most recently in January, ex-president and member of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev warned the west (you will switch to another service) of nuclear war if Russia lost the war over Ukraine.
That’s why we look at what kind of nuclear deterrent can be found behind the tough talk.
Russian nuclear missiles are best hidden in submarines
The satellite image obtained by shows six submarines at the docks.
Even a single submarine’s arsenal could cause massive destruction. The most difficult to combat are precisely the nuclear weapons placed in submarines.
Loading missiles onto a submarine is not a sign of preparation for the use of nuclear weapons, but is a normal, if rarely seen, activity.
– It’s a really good picture. One ship certainly does not spend many days in the missile dock a year, says a Russian expert Marko Eklund.
For this story, Eklund has studied the details of the satellite images for . Eklund has followed the Russian armed forces for more than 20 years and served as Finland’s deputy defense representative in Moscow between 2018 and 2021.
Normally, nuclear warheads are not stored in docked submarines, but in a nearby nuclear storage facility. You can get there in the next satellite image.
The Navy’s arsenal is almost the newest addition to Russia’s arsenal. According to Eklund, the construction of the new buildings began in 2014 as part of the development of the Russian Northern Fleet.
Heavy bombers have already participated in the war in Ukraine
Russia’s nuclear deterrent stands on three legs: Strategic nuclear weapons are on land, at sea and in the air – or practically stored near the airport. The three types of nuclear weapons are collectively called the triad.
There are about 60–70 of the heaviest bombers in Russia. Their main base in Europe is Engels, located next to the southern Russian city of Saratov.
In order to save costs, the satellite image of the Engels base has been acquired so accurately that the area outside the actual field is shown in black.
Russia has used Engels Field in its war against Ukraine. Therefore, Ukraine is believed to have hit the field twice in December.
So far, only conventional missiles have been launched from the bombers, but the planes could also be equipped with nuclear-tipped missiles.
The construction site in the satellite image tells about Russia’s nuclear armament
Russia has many strategic nuclear missiles deployed on the ground, which are spread over dozens of bases around the country.
Missiles can be launched either from silos or from vehicles. Missiles are moved on pallets, which also serve as launch platforms.
The closest to Finland is the Vypolzovo base, which is chosen here as an example.
The location in itself is not very important. Vypolzovo’s missiles are not intended against Finland or other border neighbors.
Launched from anywhere, the missiles would quickly reach any nuclear power, should Russia for some reason go so far as to carry out its worst threats.
The Vypolzovo base is large, and to reduce costs, the satellite image is tightly cropped. The area outside the objects of interest is shown in black in the picture.
Strategic nuclear missiles are also still in silos, although in place they are an easier target for the enemy. That’s why the silos are spread out, 5–10 kilometers apart.
The example chose for this article is located southwest of Moscow, south of the city of Kozelsk.
The Kozelski base is interesting because on its outskirts you can see how Russia is constantly improving its nuclear deterrence.
A new command post is being built in the second missile regiment near Kozelsk and new nuclear missiles are being brought in.
The left picture of the next pair of pictures shows the missile regiment’s command post as abandoned in 2019. Since then, the area has been thoroughly milled.
The same regiment also includes nine other old silos, in the area of which construction work has not yet started.
In the vicinity of one of the silo areas, Eklund found a large construction site.
Russia has renewed almost its entire nuclear arsenal since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and has slightly more nuclear weapons than the United States.
According to researchers (you will switch to another service) Russia currently has almost 6,000 nuclear warheads, of which about 1,600 are ready for use.
Although the nuclear missiles are scattered all over Russia, the commands to launch the missiles always come from the capital. The headquarters of the Strategic Missile Forces is located in the closed city of Vlasiha, west of Moscow.
Outsiders have no business here.
Silence will come after us – that’s the motto of Russia’s strategic nuclear forces.
Russia’s nuclear weapons could certainly cause massive destruction (you switch to another service) In the United States and Europe and before long all over the world. That would mean World War III.
Most recently, during Christmas, Putin assured (you switch to another service) Russia is improving the operational readiness of its nuclear triad. According to Putin, money is not an obstacle, but the armed forces get everything they want.
Putin is too hinted (you switch to another service)that Russia might change its nuclear weapon doctrine so that it could use strategic nuclear weapons first.
Researchers are you chat a lot (you switch to another service) about the possibility of using a nuclear weapon. The essential thing is that Russia has not changed the principles of using nuclear weapons, at least for the time being. After all, nuclear weapons are mostly suitable for intimidation and blackmail.
If Russia would ever prepare of tactical nuclear weapons (you transfer to another service) for large-scale use, it would probably be revealed by means of satellite images, among other things, as the nuclear weapons would first have to be moved from storage to bases.
No signs of such have been observed during the Russian attack.
Completely unexpectedly, Russia would not use strategic nuclear weapons either, although some of them are ready for immediate use for a retaliatory strike. There would be no winners in that gambling game.
Story opening image: Airbus (October 7, 2022)
You can discuss the topic until Monday, February 6 at 11 p.m.
Read more:
Expert: “I don’t want to scare or exaggerate, but the use of a nuclear weapon is possible” – Russia could choose from these four options
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See in satellite images how the Russian military base near Finland was suddenly emptied – expert: “Most likely sent to Ukraine”
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