Russian Navy Prepared for Nuclear Strikes Against Europe, FT

Russia was preparing its naval forces to strike targets in Europe with nuclear-armed missiles in the event of a potential conflict with NATO. This was reported by the Financial Times on August 13, citing secret documents presented to journalists by Western sources.

“The files, compiled between 2008 and 2014, contain a list of missile targets that could carry both conventional warheads and tactical nuclear weapons. Russian officers highlight the advantages of using nuclear strikes at an early stage,” FT reports.

Maps of potential targets were presented in a briefing intended for officers, which was prepared before the start of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine. As emphasized in FT's article, these maps were compiled “more for presentation purposes than for operational use.” They present a selection of 32 targets of NATO facilities in Europe for the Russian naval forces.