NEW DELHI: In a significant development during late 2022, the United States initiated comprehensive preparations in anticipation of a possible nuclear strike by Russia on Ukraine, marking a scenario reminiscent of World War II‘s Hiroshima and Nagasaki incidents. Two senior administration officials confided this alarming possibility to CNN, underlining the gravity of the situation.
The core concern revolved around Russia potentially deploying a tactical nuclear weapon, prompting an extensive contingency planning initiative by the Biden administration, as revealed in the book “The Return of Great Powers” by Jim Sciutto.This intense preparation phase reflected the administration’s commitment to averting such a catastrophic event, fueled by a combination of new intelligence, analytical assessments, and unfolding developments.
The US’s apprehension grew as Russian military setbacks in Ukraine, especially around Kherson, hinted at a nuclear response as a “potential trigger.” Officials feared Russian President Vladimir Putin might interpret a loss in Kherson, a region he claimed as Russian, as an existential threat, potentially justifying a nuclear retaliation.
Amid these tensions, the US observed Russian narratives around a Ukrainian ‘dirty bomb,’ which heightened fears of a nuclear pretext by Russia. Despite the lack of concrete steps toward nuclear mobilization, the unpredictability of tactical nuclear weapons deployment remained a pressing concern.
“I don’t think many of us coming into our jobs expected to be spending significant amounts of time preparing for a scenario which a few years ago was believed to be from a bygone era,” a senior administration official told CNN.
The US’s strategic outreach involved high-level communications with Russian officials and collaborative contingency planning with allies. Efforts extended to engaging non-allies like China and India to deter Russia from a nuclear course, reflecting a multifaceted diplomatic approach aimed at averting a global crisis.
The core concern revolved around Russia potentially deploying a tactical nuclear weapon, prompting an extensive contingency planning initiative by the Biden administration, as revealed in the book “The Return of Great Powers” by Jim Sciutto.This intense preparation phase reflected the administration’s commitment to averting such a catastrophic event, fueled by a combination of new intelligence, analytical assessments, and unfolding developments.
The US’s apprehension grew as Russian military setbacks in Ukraine, especially around Kherson, hinted at a nuclear response as a “potential trigger.” Officials feared Russian President Vladimir Putin might interpret a loss in Kherson, a region he claimed as Russian, as an existential threat, potentially justifying a nuclear retaliation.
Amid these tensions, the US observed Russian narratives around a Ukrainian ‘dirty bomb,’ which heightened fears of a nuclear pretext by Russia. Despite the lack of concrete steps toward nuclear mobilization, the unpredictability of tactical nuclear weapons deployment remained a pressing concern.
“I don’t think many of us coming into our jobs expected to be spending significant amounts of time preparing for a scenario which a few years ago was believed to be from a bygone era,” a senior administration official told CNN.
The US’s strategic outreach involved high-level communications with Russian officials and collaborative contingency planning with allies. Efforts extended to engaging non-allies like China and India to deter Russia from a nuclear course, reflecting a multifaceted diplomatic approach aimed at averting a global crisis.
