“We are at the edge of war with Russia and China” – Kissinger
Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state and national-security adviser, recently stated that the United States is “at the edge of war with
The DEFCON Warning System’s Russia coverage focuses on developments that could affect nuclear risk, strategic stability, and the possibility of escalation between Russia, NATO, the United States, and other nuclear-armed states. Coverage includes Russian nuclear forces and doctrine, strategic weapons, military exercises, command and control, warning systems, nuclear signalling, Russia–NATO tensions, the war in Ukraine, and other developments with potential consequences for nuclear deterrence and global security.
This archive brings together current reporting, analysis, and longer-form assessments concerning Russia’s military posture, nuclear policy, strategic intentions, and the wider security environment. Particular attention is given to developments that could materially alter the risk of nuclear use or major-power confrontation, while distinguishing routine rhetoric and military activity from genuine changes in strategic danger.
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Russia
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Nuclear Risks: Russia’s Ukraine War Could End in Disaster
As the Russo-Ukrainian War grinds on, both Russia and Ukraine have adjusted their strategic objectives. Russia abandoned its initial goal of seizing
Pathways to Russian Escalation Against NATO from the Ukraine War
The potential for further escalation in the ongoing war in Ukraine is a significant concern. Although much of this escalation will surely
Is a Military Conflict Between America and Russia in the Making?
As the war between Russia and Ukraine drags on into its fourth month, it is increasingly apparent that neither side is likely
What will the United States do if Russia goes nuclear? Experts say a nuclear response is unlikely but not impossible
It’s a troubling question with no palatable answer: What would President Joe Biden do if Russia used nuclear weapons in the Ukraine
Russian military moves in the Arctic worry the U.S. and NATO
Russian military moves in the Arctic worry the U.S. and NATO Melissa Rossi ·Contributor June 10, 2022·8 min read In late May,
Can Russia and the West Survive a Nuclear Crisis in Ukraine?
The Russo-Ukrainian War may soon produce a major U.S.-Russian nuclear crisis. Despite President Joe Biden’s occasional cautionary remarks that he understands the
United States Walks Fine Line in Russia-Ukraine War
The United States is placing itself in a difficult position when it comes to Russia and the Ukraine war, according to past
China and Russia’s ‘Space War’: Where Is The US?
Space-based threats from China and Russia have grown exponentially in recent years, according to a new report on the issue by the
IAEA chief raises alarm over nuclear safety at Russian-controlled plant in Ukraine
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s director-general says the level of safety at Europe’s largest nuclear plant, currently under Russian occupation in Ukraine,
Would Putin’s Russia Really Nuke Ukraine?
n Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine, could he conduct a nuclear strike on a Ukrainian city? Unfortunately, but unquestionably, the
West, Russia mull nuclear steps in a ‘more dangerous’ world
Russia’s assault on Ukraine and its veiled threats of using nuclear arms have policymakers, past and present, thinking the unthinkable: How should