Duma Leader Says Russian Nuclear Strike May Be ″Only In Response″ To One From The West | The World | D.W.

“As for the Russian Federation, we only contemplate the possibility of responding (with a nuclear device) to a targeted attack,” Volodin told “Komsomolskaya Pravda” radio station.

He added that “for us it is only a response, within the framework of defense.” “If they attack us, we respond,” she insisted.

According to Volodin, so far “the only country that has used nuclear weapons is the United States.” Therefore, from Washington “you can expect anything,” he said.

Seat of the Duma, the Russian parliament in Moscow

Speaker of the Duma speaks of “preemptive strike”

“They bombed the peaceful cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In August, on the 6th and 9th, there will be another anniversary of that. You can expect that from them,” he insisted, adding that US doctrine allows for a “preemptive strike.”

Russia announced at the end of February that it was putting its nuclear deterrence forces on alert in the face of “aggressive declarations” by the main NATO countries due to the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.

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  These nine countries have the atomic bomb

  Russia, the one with the largest arsenal

  The largest nuclear arsenal on the planet is in the hands of Russia, which is not satisfied with its 8,500 nuclear warheads, but has been working for some time to modernize both its weapons and its delivery systems. It is estimated that a quarter of them are ready to be used. The first atomic test was carried out by the Soviets in 1949.

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  These nine countries have the atomic bomb

  USA, pioneer country

  The first country to test the bomb was the United States, which is also the only one to have used it in a war: In 1945, it dropped two devices on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in Japan, that caused destruction never seen before and hastened the surrender of the empire. Serious estimates state that the US has some 7,700 nuclear warheads. In the photo, a rehearsal at Bikini Atoll in 1946.

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  These nine countries have the atomic bomb

  France, always ready

  Most of the 300 atomic bombs in France’s nuclear arsenal are in submarines, while a smaller number are available to be dropped from aircraft. The Gallic army is the only one that has its entire arsenal ready to be used. In the image, a test carried out by the French in the Mururoa atoll, in Polynesia.

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  These nine countries have the atomic bomb

  United Kingdom, confident in its submarine force

  The third member of NATO that possesses atomic bombs is the United Kingdom. With an estimated stockpile of 215 warheads, it is the third to join the club of countries possessing the bomb thanks to the test carried out in 1952. Most of its nuclear capacity is deployed in submarines and it is estimated that of its entire stockpile, 120 warheads are ready to be used. In the photo, a test from 1957.

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  These nine countries have the atomic bomb

  China is the fourth power

  With an estimated nuclear power of 250 warheads, China was the fourth world power to join the club and the third in number of nuclear weapons. Since its first test in 1964, the most populous country on the planet has maintained a stable number of its arsenal, which can be used from the air as well as the sea and positions on land.

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  These nine countries have the atomic bomb

  India, with eyes on Pakistan

  On May 18, 1974 India conducted “Smiling Buddha”, the first nuclear test in its history. Since then it has not stopped its plans, constantly increasing the size of its arsenal and operational capacity. It is estimated that it has up to 110 warheads, although none of them would be ready to be used. Its permanent conflict with Pakistan is India’s excuse to justify its arsenal.

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  These nine countries have the atomic bomb

  Pakistan, with eyes on India

  When India conducted its first thermonuclear test in 1998, Pakistan decided that the time had come for its own atomic arsenal. His plans in this regard are extremely secret, but experts estimate that he has increased his capacity to add 140 warheads, none of which would be ready to be launched.

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  These nine countries have the atomic bomb

  Israel, the eternal suspicion

  Israel is the only country in the atomic club that has never confirmed having the atomic bomb, although it has not denied that information either. Experts believe that it has up to 200 nuclear warheads (the most likely number is 80), and there is speculation regarding the possibility that in 1979 it carried out a top-secret test, which is known as the “Vela Incident”.

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  These nine countries have the atomic bomb

  North Korea, the rookie

  In 2006 North Korea carried out its first nuclear test, assuring that it was part of a military plan to protect itself from an eventual attack by the United States. Since then he has carried out numerous tests that meant international isolation and a series of sanctions. Its arsenal would be made up of, at most, 60 nuclear warheads.

  Author: Diego Zuniga