Russia deploying nuclear missile carriers in Arctic for first time since collapse of USSR, Norwegian intelligence reports
In Norway, they said that the tactical nuclear weapons of the Russian Federation pose a serious threat (Photo:flot.com)
Russia has begun deploying tactical nuclear weapon-armed vessels in the Baltic Sea for the first time in the last 30 years, the Norwegian Intelligence Service stated in their annual report, published on Feb. 13.
These vessels belong to Russia’s Northern Fleet. The report noted that during the Soviet era, Northern Fleet warships regularly went to sea with nuclear weapons, but this is the first time the modern Russian Federation has done the same.
"The key part of the nuclear potential is on the submarines and surface ships of the Northern Fleet," the Norwegian intel noted.
“Tactical nuclear weapons are a particularly serious threat in several operational scenarios in which NATO countries may be involved.”
The NIS added that Russia also has submarine capabilities, anti-satellite weapons, and cyber capabilities that could threaten Norway and the Alliance.
"The ongoing tensions between Russia and the West mean that Russia will continue to pose the greatest nuclear threat to NATO, and therefore to Norway," the agency emphasized.
“It cannot be ruled out that a localized war could escalate into a wider conflict with direct military involvement of Russia, the United States, NATO, and Norway.”
The report also states that Russia will maintain, modernize and develop its nuclear arsenal, but no significant changes in Russian nuclear doctrine are expected in the coming years.
In December 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the threat of nuclear war is "growing."
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence previously stated that it considers the threat of Russia's use of tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine to be very high. At the same time, according to Ukraine’s spy chief Kyrylo Budanov, Russia will not launch a nuclear strike in the near future.
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