War between Russia and Ukraine is becoming more and more likely as Ukraine
continues to want to be a member of NATO even though Russia withdrew some of
its 130,000 troops at the border between the two countries.
In a conflict, anything terrible can happen, including using a nuclear bomb.
British Armed Forces Secretary James Heappey had sparked alarm when he
warned that bombs could be dropped on Ukraine within minutes of President
Putin giving the order.
"My fear is that [the invasion] is imminent, that doesn't mean it's bound to
happen," he told Sky News.
"This is a warning because minutes after Putin gave the order, missiles and
bombs could land on Ukrainian cities."
His warning came after he told Britons to leave Ukraine immediately on
February 11.
Russia has a wide range of lethal nuclear weapons available. An alarming
simulation by Nukemap shows the dire repercussions that could have if
President Putin decided to nuclear bomb Ukraine.
The exact capabilities of Russia's nuclear arsenal remain unclear.
However, if it were to launch a nuclear weapon with the same capability as
the "Tsar Bomba", the largest nuclear bomb designed under the Soviet Union,
the impact would be catastrophic.
The Tsar Bomba has a power of 100 megatons. If it were to be launched in the
Ukrainian capital, then the consequences would be devastating. The fireball
radius of the bomb will engulf the entire city.
According to Nukemap, it will cover 117 sq km.
"Anything inside the fireball effectively evaporates," Nukemap wrote in a
simulation analysis, as quoted by express.co.uk, Tuesday (15/2/2022).
But the effect of such a weapon will be felt far outside the city, because
the radius of thermal radiation will cover an area of about 17.080 sq.km.
It will stretch almost as far as Bila Tserkva north of the Ukrainian
capital.
Nukemap states the thermal radiation will cause third-degree burns to extend
to all layers of the skin, and are often painless because they damage
nerves.
"They can cause severe scarring or disability and may require amputation.
The 100 percent probability for third-degree burns in this outcome is 13.9
cal/cm2," continued Nukemap's analysis.
The effects of the explosion could stretch as far as Chernobyl and the
Belarusian border. According to Nukemap, the light blast damage radius will
cover an area of 26,450 sq.km.
Those in the area would expect to see their windows shattered, which would
result in numerous injuries to surrounding residents who came to the windows
after seeing the flash of a nuclear explosion.
During a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron,
President Putin said allowing Ukraine to join NATO would increase the
likelihood of a Russia-NATO conflict. He added such an event could turn into
a nuclear war.
He stressed that war with Europe and Russia was likely if Ukraine joined
NATO and then attempted to retake Crimea which is now part of Russia.
"Of course, the potential for the unity of NATO and Russia is incomparable,"
Putin said.
"Russia is one of the leading nuclear powers in the world and is superior to
many of these countries in terms of the number of components of a modern
nuclear force," Putin added.