Daniel Wolfram
Russia keeps stockpiling nuclear weapons during its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has steadily expanded the number of active nuclear warheads mounted on its operational missiles and long-range bombers.
According to reporting from The Moscow Times citing data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia now has 1,796 warheads ready for immediate launch.
Exploring the nuclear option
That figure represents the highest operational count for the nation in nine years. Overall, Putin oversees a total arsenal of 5,420 nuclear warheads.
Over the past year, Russian military forces added 78 deployed warheads to their ready inventory. The total keeps climbing.
By contrast, the United States kept its active arsenal at 1,770 deployed warheads. Other global powers like France and Britain also maintained stable numbers.
Uncovered foreign parts
Beyond strategic stockpiles, Ukrainian defense intelligence is shedding new light on Russian weaponry. Ukraine’s military recently dismantled a captured Russian RM-48U ballistic missile to examine its internal guidance systems.
Experts discovered the weapon was built by combining parts from older air defense missiles. The teardown revealed dozens of foreign electronic components produced by American technology companies.
