To curb the Ukrainian army's effective counter-offensive, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev have spoken of their desire to resort to "low-power" nuclear weapons.
The use of this type of weapon by Russia, used only once in history during the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, is it credible?
These nuclear missiles have a purpose of “non-use”, of “deterrence”, explains Dominique Trinquand, former head of the French military mission to the UN.
There are two types of nuclear weapons: strategic and tactical.
The tactical nuclear weapon, differs from the strategic, by two characteristics: a reduced range, of a few hundred kilometers, and a reduced power.
Read also“Tactical” nuclear weapons: power, damage, strategy… should the Russian threat be taken seriously?
More than 40 kilotons of power
The bomb launched on Hiroshima had a power of 15 kilotons, today “they can reach more than 40 kilotons”, explains General Paloméros, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
"It's still nuclear, so weapons that have extraordinary power," recalls Dominique Trinquand.
Despite calls from those close to the Kremlin, the use of this type of missile in the conflict in Ukraine is unthinkable for Russia, reassure the experts.
Because if Russia had recourse to nuclear weapons, there would be an international reaction of the same magnitude.
"If they use nuclear weapons, we will use nuclear weapons, and it's the end of the world, so they won't use it," assures General Trinquand.
“That would amount to polluting the land you want to occupy, and being the first president to trigger nuclear fire on European territory, what a heavy responsibility in front of humanity,” concludes Jean-Paul Paloméros.