The world watched anxiously on February 24 as Russian forces, on orders from President Vladimir Putin, invaded Ukraine.
“The possibility of nuclear conflict, once unimaginable, is now back in the realm of possibilities,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on 14 March.
Nearly 70% of Americans Survey by the American Psychological Association They said they were “concerned that an invasion of Ukraine would lead to a nuclear war, and they feared that we were in the early stages of World War III.”
Researchers estimate that there are approximately 12,700 nuclear weapons deployed among nine countries, with the United States and Russia possessing the majority.
Researchers and government officials stress that a nuclear attack is highly unlikely.
“We are evaluating President Putin’s guidance, and at this time, we see no reason to change our alert levels,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on February 28.
“As long as these weapons exist, there will always be the possibility that they will actually be used,” said Alejandra Munoz, a project officer for the Dutch peace organization PAX.
Researchers, academics, and advocacy groups for risk reduction and nuclear disarmament have written reports detailing what a hypothetical attack might look like and the long-term impact it could have on the planet and society.
Here’s what a hypothetical nuclear attack might look like and how the United States might respond.
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