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| How many nuclear weapons does Russia have? | How many nuclear weapons does Russia have? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| President Putin has put Russia's nuclear forces on "special" alert, raising concerns around the world. | President Putin has put Russia's nuclear forces on "special" alert, raising concerns around the world. |
| But analysts suggest his actions should probably be interpreted as a warning to other countries not to escalate their involvement in Ukraine, rather than signalling any desire to use nuclear weapons. | But analysts suggest his actions should probably be interpreted as a warning to other countries not to escalate their involvement in Ukraine, rather than signalling any desire to use nuclear weapons. |
| Nuclear weapons have existed for almost 80 years and many countries see them as a deterrent that continues to guarantee their national security. | Nuclear weapons have existed for almost 80 years and many countries see them as a deterrent that continues to guarantee their national security. |
| How many nuclear weapons does Russia have? | How many nuclear weapons does Russia have? |
| All figures for nuclear weapons are estimates but, according to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia has 5,977 nuclear warheads - the devices that trigger a nuclear explosion - though this includes about 1,500 that are retired and set to to be dismantled. | All figures for nuclear weapons are estimates but, according to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia has 5,977 nuclear warheads - the devices that trigger a nuclear explosion - though this includes about 1,500 that are retired and set to to be dismantled. |
| Of the remaining 4,500 or so, most are considered strategic nuclear weapons - ballistic missiles, or rockets, which can be targeted over long distances. These are the weapons usually associated with nuclear war. | |
| The rest are smaller, less destructive nuclear weapons for short-range use on battlefields or at sea. | The rest are smaller, less destructive nuclear weapons for short-range use on battlefields or at sea. |
| But this does not mean Russia has thousands of long-range nuclear weapons ready to go. | But this does not mean Russia has thousands of long-range nuclear weapons ready to go. |
| Experts estimate around 1,500 Russian warheads are currently "deployed", meaning sited at missile and bomber bases or on submarines at sea. | |
| How does this compare with other countries? | How does this compare with other countries? |
| Nine countries have nuclear weapons: China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, the US and the UK. | Nine countries have nuclear weapons: China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, the US and the UK. |
| China, France, Russia, the US and the UK are also among 191 states signed up to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). | China, France, Russia, the US and the UK are also among 191 states signed up to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). |
| Under the agreement, they have to reduce their stockpile of nuclear warheads and, in theory, are committed to their complete elimination. | Under the agreement, they have to reduce their stockpile of nuclear warheads and, in theory, are committed to their complete elimination. |
| And it has reduced the number of warheads stored in those countries since the 1970 and 80s. | And it has reduced the number of warheads stored in those countries since the 1970 and 80s. |
| India, Israel and Pakistan never joined the NPT - and North Korea left in 2003. | India, Israel and Pakistan never joined the NPT - and North Korea left in 2003. |
| Israel is the only country of the nine never to have formally acknowledged its nuclear programme - but it is widely accepted to have nuclear warheads. | Israel is the only country of the nine never to have formally acknowledged its nuclear programme - but it is widely accepted to have nuclear warheads. |
| Ukraine has no nuclear weapons and, despite accusations by President Putin, there is no evidence it has attempted to acquire them. | Ukraine has no nuclear weapons and, despite accusations by President Putin, there is no evidence it has attempted to acquire them. |
| LIVE: Latest updates from on the ground | LIVE: Latest updates from on the ground |
| THE BASICS: Why is Putin invading Ukraine? | THE BASICS: Why is Putin invading Ukraine? |
| MAPS: Tracking day six of Russia's invasion | MAPS: Tracking day six of Russia's invasion |
| RUSSIA SANCTIONS: 'If I could leave, I would' | RUSSIA SANCTIONS: 'If I could leave, I would' |
| UKRAINE: Desperate scenes in Lviv train station | UKRAINE: Desperate scenes in Lviv train station |
| IN DEPTH: Full coverage of the conflict | IN DEPTH: Full coverage of the conflict |
| How destructive are nuclear weapons? | How destructive are nuclear weapons? |
| Nuclear weapons are designed to cause maximum devastation. | Nuclear weapons are designed to cause maximum devastation. |
| The extent of the destruction depends on a range of factors, including: | The extent of the destruction depends on a range of factors, including: |
| the size of the warhead | the size of the warhead |
| how high above the ground it detonates | how high above the ground it detonates |
| the local environment | the local environment |
| But even the smallest warhead could cause huge loss of life and lasting consequences. | But even the smallest warhead could cause huge loss of life and lasting consequences. |
| The bomb that killed up to 146,000 people in Hiroshima, Japan, during World War Two, was 15 kilotons. | The bomb that killed up to 146,000 people in Hiroshima, Japan, during World War Two, was 15 kilotons. |
| And nuclear warheads today can be more than 1,000 kilotons. | And nuclear warheads today can be more than 1,000 kilotons. |
| Little is expected to survive in the immediate impact zone of a nuclear explosion. | Little is expected to survive in the immediate impact zone of a nuclear explosion. |
| After a blinding flash, there is a huge fireball and blast wave that can destroy buildings and structures for several kilometres. | After a blinding flash, there is a huge fireball and blast wave that can destroy buildings and structures for several kilometres. |
| What does 'nuclear deterrent' mean and has it worked? | What does 'nuclear deterrent' mean and has it worked? |
| The argument for maintaining large numbers of nuclear weapons has been having the capacity to completely destroy your enemy would prevent them from attacking you. | The argument for maintaining large numbers of nuclear weapons has been having the capacity to completely destroy your enemy would prevent them from attacking you. |
| The most famous term for this became mutually assured destruction (Mad). | The most famous term for this became mutually assured destruction (Mad). |
| Though there have been many nuclear tests and a constant increase in their technical complexity and destructive power, nuclear weapons have not been used in an armed confrontation since 1945. | Though there have been many nuclear tests and a constant increase in their technical complexity and destructive power, nuclear weapons have not been used in an armed confrontation since 1945. |
| Russian policy also acknowledges nuclear weapons solely as a deterrent and lists four cases for their use: | Russian policy also acknowledges nuclear weapons solely as a deterrent and lists four cases for their use: |
| the launch of ballistic missiles attacking the territory of the Russian Federation or its allies | the launch of ballistic missiles attacking the territory of the Russian Federation or its allies |
| the use of nuclear weapons or other types of weapons of mass destruction against the Russian Federation or its allies | the use of nuclear weapons or other types of weapons of mass destruction against the Russian Federation or its allies |
| an attack on critical governmental or military sites of the Russian Federation that threatens its nuclear capability | an attack on critical governmental or military sites of the Russian Federation that threatens its nuclear capability |
| aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy | aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy |
| How worried should we be? The likelihood of nuclear conflict may have gone up slightly but remains low. | How worried should we be? The likelihood of nuclear conflict may have gone up slightly but remains low. |
| Even if Putin's threat is meant as a warning rather than signalling any current desire to use the weapons, there is always the risk of miscalculation if one side misinterprets the other or events get out of hand. | Even if Putin's threat is meant as a warning rather than signalling any current desire to use the weapons, there is always the risk of miscalculation if one side misinterprets the other or events get out of hand. |
| UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told BBC News the UK had so far seen no change in the actual posture of Russia's nuclear weapons. | UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told BBC News the UK had so far seen no change in the actual posture of Russia's nuclear weapons. |
| That will be watched closely, intelligence sources confirm. | That will be watched closely, intelligence sources confirm. |
| You can read more from Gordon Corera here. | You can read more from Gordon Corera here. |