(Reuters). Despite the Ukraine conflict and Russia’s increasing nuclear power, President Vladimir Putin declared Wednesday that Russia should have a new system of ballistic missiles to make its enemies think.

Eight weeks ago Putin announced Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. He warned that any attempts to stop it “will lead to such consequences as you have not experienced in your entire history”. He ordered that Russia’s nuclear weapons be placed on alert a few days later.

Antonio Guterres (United Nations Secretary General) stated that the possibility of nuclear war, which was previously unimaginable, has now been brought back into the realm of possibility.

Below is an example of Russia’s hierarchy of command in the case of a nuclear-weapon launch.

WHO ASKS FOR RUSSIAN NUCLEAR WAPONS TO BE LOOKED AT?

The Russian President takes the decision not to use nuclear weapons according to a 2020 document called the “Basic Principles of State Policy of Russia Federation on Nuclear Deterrence”.

One small bag, the Cheget (or Cheget), is always close to the president and links him with the command-and control network of Russia’s strategic nuclear forces. It does not have a nuclear launch button. Instead, it sends order to launch commands to the General Staff.

IS IT A GOOD THING THAT PUTIN GIVES THE NUCLEAR ORD?

Two methods for launching nuclear warheads are available to the Russian General Staff, which has access code launch codes. The General Staff can issue authorisation codes to specific weapons commanders who execute the launch procedures. Perimetr also exists as a backup system. This allows the General Staff directly to start the launch of land-based rockets, bypassing any immediate command points.

DID PUTIN’S HIGH ALERT ORDER MAKE A LAUNCH LOSER?

Putin’s February 27 statement that Russia’s counter-deterrence forces, which includes nuclear weapons, should be on high alert was followed by the defense ministry announcing that the Strategic Missile Forces (Northern and Pacific Fleets), and Long-Range Aviation Command have been put on combat “enhanced” duty. They were augmented with personnel.

Russia does not use the expression enhanced or special combat duty in its nuclear doctrine. This leaves military experts confused as to what that might mean.

Pavel Podvig is a Senior Researcher at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, Geneva. He stated on Twitter (NYSE 🙂 that Russia might have activated its nuclear command and control systems, opening up communication channels for any possible launch orders. It could be that the Russians increased the number of staff in their nuclear facilities, as he suggested.

RULES ARE RUSSIA’S FOR THE USE OF NUCLEAR WAPONS

Four scenarios could be presented by the 2020 doctrine that may justify using Russian nuclear weapons.

— Use of nuclear weapons, or weapons of destruction against Russia and its allies

— Data showing missile launches aimed at Russia or its allies

— An attack on critical military or government sites would compromise Russia’s ability to respond to threats.

The use of conventional weapons against Russia is only allowed when the existence of the state may be in danger.

RUSSIA HAS WHAT NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES

According to The Federation of American Scientists (FASE), Russia holds 5,977 nuclear weapons, which is more than any other nation. 1,588 of these are currently deployed and available for use. You can fire its missiles from any location, including by planes or submarines.

On February 19, Putin presided over a coordinated testing of Russia’s nukes forces. He was told on TV by the military, that Sarmat, an intercontinental ballistic missile, had been launched successfully for the first-time. This has been in development for many years.

According to Tass, a top official from Russia said Wednesday that the Russian nuclear force will begin receiving the missiles “in the fall of this year”.

Last month, in apparent efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Russia, the United States halted routine testing of its Minuteman ballistic weapon.

HAS RUSSIA EXPERIENCED NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN WAR?

No. No.