Chance (18 Sep 2022)
"Russia and Tactical Nukes"


 
Hello John and Doves,
 
The longer this Ukraine-Russia war drags on the greater the risk of the use of "someone" using tactical nukes.
 
 "A while ago the US president, Biden, recognized that the risk of using tactical nuclear weapons by Russia has increased significantly...Biden's intervention indicates that US agencies have detected signs or movements of tactical nuclear warheads.  This fact, combined with Russia's refusal to increase ground forces fighting in Ukraine, has alarmed the Pentagon."
 
In a 60 Minutes interview with Biden, he was asked what he would say to President Putin:  "Do not do it.  No. No.  You're going to change the face of warfare in comparison to anything else since World War II."
 
 
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation has been using biblical terms for what may happen: like "Apocalypse", "the four horsemen".  He believes that "if Ukraine continues to be "pumped" full of weapons, then "sooner or later the military campaign will go to another level", with unpredictable actions by the opposing sides.  Medvedev is afraid that then "everything will catch fire", and the West, which is "weakening Russia by proxy", will not be able to sit it out.  "Everything will catch fire around them as well.  Their people will be devastated.  Their earth will literally burn, and concrete will melt.  We too will suffer a lot.  It will be very bad for everyone.  After all, it is said:  "By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and the smoke and sulphur coming out of their mouths...."
 
It's believed that Russia has about 5,977 nuclear warheads with 1,588 actively deployed.  NATO has an estimated 5,943 (US: 5,428, France: 290, UK: 225)  The US has around 3,750 active nuclear warheads and around 1,750 retired warheads awaiting dismantlement per July, 2020 article.
Fact Sheet: The United States' Nuclear Inventory - Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
 
What concerns me the most is Russia's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. - all told, their 11 subs can launch some 624 nuclear warheads.  And they have a sub that can carry a tsunami creating nuclear torpedo.  Also, Russia has approximately 306 strategic intercontinental ballistic missiles that carry multiple nuclear warheads - they can launch around 1,185 nuclear warheads.  And there are some 68 heavy bombers that can carry some 700 nuclear warheads.
 
The US has 14 ballistic missile submarines - each can carry an average of 90 warheads per sub.  The US has 400 Minuteman III intecontinental ballistic missiles in silos - each ICBM carries one warhead.  And there are 66 bombers that can carry gravity bombs or warheads.
 
At some point in The Tribulation it does look like nuclear weapons will be used:  these will be used against the nations that fought against Jerusalem:  "Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongues shall consume away in their mouth."  Zechariah 14:12  But then, this could be something God does, not using any nuclear weapon.
 
And possibly the "flying scroll"  that flies between heaven and earth of Zechariah 5 could be an ICBM - with fire in a basket that has a lead lid -  that the angel calls "the iniquity of the people throughout the land"; this will completely destroy whatever it hits.
 
Also, since America and Europe aren't mentioned (?) in Ezekiel 38/39 we don't know what happens to them that keeps them from helping Israel in the Gog Magog war.  They could have been previously nuked or blackmailed with nukes and compromised; hit with EMPs.  ??
 
 "A Russian diplomat said civilian satellites could be legitimate military targets in a statement that seems to refer to Starlink providing broadband access in Ukraine.  Civilian satellites "may become a legitimate target for retaliation," the Russian official said in a statement to the United Nations' open-ended working group on reducing space threats."
Russian official says civilian satellites may be “legitimate” military target | Ars Technica
 
Who knows what else Russia could consider a target.
 
"The Biden administration announced Thursday it will send another $600 million in military aid to Ukraine, as the U.S. rushes more weapons to fuel Kyiv's counteroffensive that has reclaimed large stretches of the embattled country and forced Russian troops to retreat. 
US sends new military aid for Ukraine to boost momentum
 
It continues to surprise me that the U.S. and other countries have, from the get go, told the whole world through various news outlets what they are sending (military equipment, weapons, etc), how much, when and to where and at what cost, and then pictures go all over the internet of the movement of military equipment to Ukraine.  Who does that?  And this has allowed Putin to target any country sending weapons to Ukraine.  It's like they are asking for retaliation.
 
The "retreat" part of the Russians seems dangerous to me...put this with Putin not increasing boots on the ground...if the war is 'going south' for Putin, he has few options....he may be clearing out areas for the use of bigger weapons.
 
"British military Major General warned that Valdimir Putin could use tactical nuclear weapons in the near future because of the unraveling of his invasion of Ukraine.  Major General Rupert Jones explained that Vladimir Putin is now coming under more pressure to win the war in Ukraine.  The British military General outlined two strategies the Russian leader could adopt in a bid to ease the mounting pressure he has been facing since Ukraine launched its counter-offensive in August..."."Putin is under greater and greater pressure and has got to do something.  And the things he has done so far have not worked...He's tried to use a lot of firepower, and that hasn't worked so what does he do? What does he do next?  A general mobilization isn't effective because you can't train and equip the forces he needs, so his options are relatively limited.  One option is to double down on using conventional firepower....The alternative...is to use tactical nuclear weapons....he's no fool, he knows the implications of using tactical nuclear weapons."
 
"..many military experts have been warning of retaliation from Putin....Rose Gottemoeller, a former United States Under Secretary of State have been warning of a possible nuclear attack from Russia."
Putin tipped to use 'tactical nuclear weapons' as Russian leader under 'greater pressure' | World | News | Express.co.uk
 
Rose Gottemoeller, "who severed as NATO's deputy secretary general between 2016 and 2019 ...cautioned that the Kremlin could respond in unpredictable ways....The former deputy NATO chief then warned that Moscow could resort to using weapons of mass destruction in an attempt to make Kyiv capitulate.  "I fear they will strike back now in really unpredictable ways and in ways that may even involve weapons of mass destruction," she said.  "He might put in a play a nuclear demonstration strike, either a single strike over the Black Sea or perhaps a strike at a Ukrainian military facility in order to strike terror not only into the hearts of the Ukrainians but also the global partners and allies of Ukraine."
 
"The warning was backed by former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who said that nuclear war with Russia was "a lot closer" than previously."
Russia may use nuclear weapons after Ukraine setbacks, senior Nato and US officials warn | The Independent
 
Even this author in The Atlantic lists "several scenarios for how Russia might soon use a nuclear weapon seem possible: 1) a detonation over the Black Sea, causing no casualties but demonstrating a resolve to cross the nuclear threshold and signaling that worse may come, 2) a decapitation strike against the Ukrainian leadership...3) a nuclear assault on a Ukrainian military target, perhaps an air base or supply depot...and 4) the destruction of a Ukrainian city, causing mass civilian casualties and creating terror to precipitate a swift surrender..."
What If Russia Uses Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine? - The Atlantic
 
I don't think that Putin ordering a tactical nuclear strike in Ukraine would be a big surprise at this point.   The U.S. advisers must be seeing something worrying.  So that Biden warns Putin 'not to do it.'  Like they know he is going to.  It certainly wouldn't be the first/last tactical nuke used - it would probably continue to escalate with tactical nukes in European, Russian and American cities.  And it will come at a huge cost for both sides. 
 
Anything is possible.
 
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
 
Maranatha!
 
Chance