Even the "local" use of nuclear weapons will lead to the death of nearly 100 million people - this is the conclusion reached by scientists who simulated the exchange of strikes between the leading atomic powers.
In early September, the Joint Nuclear Operations Doctrine was released to the public from the website of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army. Although the 60-page document was soon removed, representatives of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) managed to save and distribute it. The announced plans are really worth knowing: they include scenarios not only for a global and general nuclear conflict, but also for the local use of atomic weapons within the framework of "tactical" or "limited regional" use.
The military believes that such options are quite acceptable and will not lead to the most serious, apocalyptic consequences. Moreover, the US does not have the principle of “no first use of nuclear weapons,” and in some situations, “moderate” use is considered acceptable. Some of these scenarios are detailed in the document. Researchers at Princeton University's Science and Global Security Laboratory modeled the development of one of them.
The video, in which scientists presented the results of this work, shows a fictional conflict between NATO and Russian forces. According to the scenario, in an effort to limit the bloc's capabilities in Central and Eastern Europe, the Russian army launches a nuclear strike on the border areas of Germany and Poland. In response, the United States is using nuclear weapons in the Kaliningrad region. Scientists estimate that by this time at least 2.6 million people will die.
However, both sides have already crossed the line and freed themselves in the use of nuclear weapons. The strike of 300 warheads paralyzes the NATO forces, in response, the remaining 180 warheads are sent across the territory of the Russian Federation. According to the model, the death rate has already reached 34.1 million, and another 57.4 million people will die from severe injuries and wounds. The authors of the work emphasize that there is no "limited" nuclear war, and therefore it is necessary to strengthen control over lethal weapons and continue the fight for their complete destruction before they destroy us.
Sergey Vasiliev
