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Small-Scale Question Sunday for July 5, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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I think it is highly unlikely that Russia uses nuclear weapons on any targets. That being said, if Russia were to use nukes, it would almost certainly be on European targets, with Ukraine at the top of the list. Aside from the tactical considerations, from a threat management perspective there are a) only two European countries with credible nuclear deterrants at all, and frankly neither of them are particularly impressive (France- 4 SSBNs, 1 at sea at all times, and a couple of airbases with Rafales capable of air-launched nuclear cruise missiles; UK- 4 SSBNs, 1 at sea at all times; 4 well-timed strikes could theoretically eliminate all available European deterrance) b) its a lot easier and a lot more immediately valuable to hit targets in Europe if Putin does decide to sling nukes.

That being said, I'm pretty sure this would be a suicide ploy, as the US would likely decide the world order cannot continue with Putin and cronies in charge, and remove him by any means necessary- including ICBM or cruise missile strikes. In a mutual nuclear exchange, Russia loses very badly, possibly to the point of landing zero-one hits on the continental US while suffering functional annihilation in return.