Key Point Summary – Putin Contemplating Tactical Nuclear Strike

• British expert warns Putin is seriously considering nuclear weapons
• Russia has gained just 5,000 km² since January 2024
• CSIS report reveals average Russian advance of only 50 meters per day
• Progress slower than WWI’s Somme offensive
• Heavy Russian casualties and lost equipment deepen Kremlin pressure
• Franco-British nuclear alliance now deters Kremlin ambitions
• Trump’s NATO stance seen as emboldening Putin’s brinkmanship

Nuclear Fears Grow Amid Russian Stalemate

Vladimir Putin may be preparing to go nuclear. That’s the chilling warning from a former top British Army officer, who claims the Russian president is actively weighing the use of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Despite its advantage in manpower and hardware, Russia has failed to gain significant ground in over 18 months. The latest data shows that Putin’s forces have seized just 5,000 square kilometers since January 2024—less than one percent of Ukraine’s land.

And the cost? Sky-high. Equipment destroyed. Thousands dead. Morale shaken.

Advance Slower Than World War I

The U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) recently released a brutal assessment of Russia’s battlefield performance. In the Kharkiv region, Moscow’s army is advancing at a glacial pace—only 50 meters a day.

That’s slower than the bloody trenches of World War I. At the Somme, British and French troops moved an average of 80 meters per day.

Analysts say this sluggish pace is infuriating Putin and pushing him toward a dangerous decision.

Former Colonel Sounds the Alarm

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a retired British Colonel and weapons of mass destruction expert, raised the red flag in a fiery Telegraph op-ed.

“The fact that Putin and his gangsters have threatened nuclear attack continuously since the wider war in Ukraine began suggests they are thinking about it in detail,” he warned.

What began as a quick operation, he said, has turned into a grinding war of attrition. With his army bleeding resources and losing momentum, Putin may believe that tactical nukes could turn the tide.

Would The World React?

De Bretton-Gordon also pointed to uncertainty in the West. Specifically, he suggested Donald Trump’s wavering commitment to NATO might be fueling Putin’s aggression.

“If they believe the U.S. might hesitate, they may gamble that the world won’t respond fast enough,” he explained.

That belief—however dangerous—may embolden Putin to go where no leader has gone since 1945.

But others say the Kremlin may be miscalculating.

France and Britain Send a Message

Just last week, the UK and France inked a historic nuclear weapons pact. This joint warning to Russia signaled that a tactical strike wouldn’t go unanswered.

British and French officials agreed that any nuclear attack on Ukraine would meet “measured but direct” retaliation, potentially targeting Russian military assets inside Ukraine.

In other words, if Putin pushes the button, he risks sparking a counterstrike from not one, but two nuclear powers.

Map Reveals Safest Nations From WW3 Fallout

As nuclear concerns grow, survival guides are suddenly back in fashion. A viral map circulating online lists the nine safest countries to flee to in case of World War 3.

Among the top destinations: New Zealand, Iceland, Bhutan, and Switzerland. These nations rank high for neutrality, geography, and food security.

Panic searches for fallout shelters and nuclear bunkers have surged, especially in Europe and the U.S. Some survival gear retailers even reported a 300% spike in iodine tablet sales last week.

Why Tactical Nukes Are Different

Tactical nuclear weapons aren’t city-destroying bombs—they’re smaller, battlefield-oriented warheads. But make no mistake: they’re still devastating.

Typically, they target military bases, troop formations, or infrastructure nodes. Their use would shatter modern warfare norms and almost certainly trigger a global crisis.

And even a small-scale nuclear strike could force NATO to intervene directly—something Western leaders have avoided for nearly three years.

What Putin Might Be Thinking

Experts believe Putin could consider tactical nukes if Ukrainian counteroffensives gain momentum, or if Russian lines collapse in key regions.

“This is about saving face,” said one U.S. defense analyst. “He needs to show strength, even if it means crossing the unthinkable line.”

But insiders say internal Kremlin debates are heated. Some military officials are wary. Others, reportedly, are pushing for escalation.

Meanwhile, propaganda channels in Russia continue to float nuclear threats to keep the West on edge.

Will the Nuclear Threat Be Realized?

So far, the Kremlin has stopped short of deploying tactical nuclear warheads. But the warning signs are flashing red.

Putin’s war drags on. Losses pile up. Sanctions bite harder. And his grip on power may depend on turning the tide—fast.

If conventional means fail, desperate measures could follow.

And the world may soon face the gravest test of nuclear restraint since the Cold War.

For now, leaders in Washington, London, and Paris are watching—ready, but hoping the doomsday button stays untouched.