US officials believe that the likelihood Russian President Vladimir Putin will use a tactical nuclear weapon in his struggling war in Ukraine is perhaps the highest it has been since Russia invaded in February — but is still not probable.
The intelligence community is closely watching for any signs that Putin’s calculus has changed after the Russian president was widely perceived last week to be escalating his past threats to use nuclear weapons. The threat is certainly “elevated” compared to earlier in the year, according to multiple sources. The US in recent months has been privately warning Russia not to take such a catastrophic step.
” Little concern Russia would use a ‘strategic’ nuclear weapon There is little concern that Russia will use what is known as a “strategic” nuclear weapon — warheads that have explosive yields of 500 to 800 kilotons and are designed to destroy entire cities. “Tactical,” or “battlefield” warheads — also known as “low yield” warheads — are designed for use in a battlefield setting. They have explosive yields of 10 to 100 kilotons of dynamite.
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