The DEFCON Warning System™

The World’s Only Public Nuclear Threat Advisory System. Independent, real-time analysis of global nuclear tensions. Since 1984.

Russia

Ukraine rejects Western fear that Putin would use nuclear weapons to keep Crimea

Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t use nuclear weapons to retain control of Crimea, according to a senior Ukrainian official who rejected contrary

NATO to surge troops to Russian border

NATO plans to surge troops to Russia’s border as part of an effort to become a “war-fighting alliance,” the New York Times

The Impact of Finland’s NATO Membership on Trans-Atlantic Security Relations

As one of the most stable and prosperous countries in the world, Finland’s decision to join NATO is a critical development in

How Putin’s fate is tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine

I keep thinking back to something I heard on Russian state TV three years ago. At the time Russians were being urged

Experts React: Factors Shaping the Russia-Ukraine Conflict in 2023

As Russia and Ukraine head into year two of a war that has defied expectations, a collection of CSIS experts examined driving

(Radiological) War by Other Means: A Dirty Bomb in Ukraine?

Fear is mightier than the sword, and few things stoke fear like a dirty bomb. So, it should have come as no

What would actually happen if Putin hit Ukraine with tactical nukes?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised the specter of a nuclear attack on Ukraine several times since invading the country in February

Could Putin’s pivot in Ukraine will bring about permanent war in Europe?

Last week, Russia announced that it will make “major changes” to strengthen its armed forces’ during the 2023-2026 time period, a sign

5 places World War III could start in 2023

In 2022, the world came closer to Great Power War than at any point since the end of the Cold War. Russia

How to Know if Putin Is Going to Nuke Ukraine

Nuclear weapons have not been used in war since 1945, but their presence has loomed large over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia Releases Incredibly Detailed Views Of Its Massive ‘Satan’ Missile

Russian state media outlets have offered unprecedented looks at the payload bus for the R-36M2 intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, where the

No, The US Military Has Not Been At DEFCON 2 Since Russia’s Invasion

How can we say this with such certainty? Continue reading to learn why high alert levels are both short-lived and impossible to