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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: RUSSIA UKRAINE NUCLEAR WEAPONS
HEADLINE: Russia’s Huge Losses in Ukraine Prompt Rethink On Nuclear Weapons, Report Warns
TEASER: IISS report says Kremlin increasingly relies on Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons to deter NATO
PUBLISHED AT: (DATE & TIME)
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: London
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR,pcd
VIDEO SOURCES: Zoom, Reuters, APTN, AFP
PLATFORMS: WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:37
VID APPROVED BY: SB
TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES: Please send questions / edited script to henryridgwell@hotmail.com ))
((INTRO))
[[Russia’s heavy losses in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine mean that Moscow now sees its nuclear weapons – including smaller, shorter range nuclear bombs – as increasingly important in deterring and defeating NATO, according to a new report, which warns that the West must wake up to the threat. Henry Ridgwell has more.]]
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF PUTIN, UKRAINE INVASION))
In February 2022 – as he announced the invasion of Ukraine – Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the world of “consequences you have never faced in your history” if the West tried to stop Russia.
A report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies says fear of escalation has caused the West to hesitate in supplying arms to Kyiv.
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF DETROYED RUSSIAN TANKS))
But nearly two years on, U.S. intelligence officials estimate Russia has lost more than 300-thousand military personnel in Ukraine - nearly 90 percent of its pre-war army – much of it at the hands of weapons donated by the West. Report author, William Alberque.
[[RADIO VERSION: Analyst William Alberque of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.]]
((William Alberque, International Institute for Strategic Studies (male in English) ))
((cf. Zoom logo))
“Russia has less confidence now in their conventional capabilities because of everything they’ve lost in the Ukraine war.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF RUSSIAN WEAPONS SYSTEMS))
That means Moscow’s shorter-range atomic weapons, known as Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons – designed for use on the battlefield – are becoming increasingly important to the Kremlin, according to Alberque.
((William Alberque, International Institute for Strategic Studies (male in English) ))
((cf. Zoom logo))
“Russia has basically short range and medium range, air-launched, ground-launched and sea-launched missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads throughout the theater and able to hold all of NATO at risk. NATO itself lacks sort of a countervailing capability to match the Russian capability.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF KARAGANOV))
The report highlights a June paper published by Russian analyst Sergei Karaganov, in which he endorsed a tactical nuclear strike on a European state supportive of Ukraine, in order to restore deterrence against NATO.
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF PUTIN AT VALDAI CONFERENCE))
At an October political conference in Russia, Putin himself picked out Karaganov among the audience.
((William Alberque, International Institute for Strategic Studies (male in English)))
((cf. Zoom logo))
“Putin said, ‘Yes, I read all of your papers. And I don't think we need to strike NATO but I do think I need additional options in terms of escalation with the U.S. and NATO in order to maintain deterrence.’ So, for them, they're constantly thinking about what sort of dosage of nuclear weapons would they need to make us acquiesce, to make us basically sue for peace, without escalating the conflict beyond their control.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF NATO FORCES IN EUROPE))
Russia believes NATO does not have the resolve to respond with its own nuclear weapons, according to the report – which says it’s vital for the West to re-calibrate its own deterrence.
NATO has said the use of any nuclear weapon by Russia in Ukraine would “fundamentally change the nature of the conflict” and would have consequences.
((Henry Ridgwell, VOA News, London))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 24, 2024 14:04 EST
BylineHenry Ridgwell
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English, US Agency for Global Media
