Secret Russian Files Detail Plans for Nuclear Strikes Across Europe

Russia's navy has been preparing to target sites deep within Europe using nuclear-capable missiles, according to classified documents obtained by the Financial Times. These files reveal detailed plans for potential strikes as far from Russia as the west coast of France and Barrow-in-Furness in the UK. This strategy, which predates Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, underscores a broader vision of conflict extending well beyond NATO's immediate borders.

The documents, produced between 2008 and 2014, outline a range of targets for missiles equipped with either conventional or tactical nuclear warheads. Russian officers emphasize the benefits of deploying nuclear strikes early in a conflict. The presentation also indicates that Russia maintains the capability to carry nuclear weapons on surface ships, a factor that could heighten risks of escalation or accidents.

The files show that Russia's naval strategy involves conducting "sudden and pre-emptive blows" and "massive missile strikes from various directions," with nuclear weapons often used in combination with other forms of destruction. Analysts who reviewed the documents find them consistent with NATO's assessments of Russia's readiness to employ long-range missiles and the likelihood of rapid nuclear use.

A significant portion of the target list, though only a sample, includes 32 NATO sites across Europe. William Alberque, a former NATO official, noted that this represents just a fraction of potentially thousands of targets mapped across the continent, encompassing both military and critical infrastructure.

Experts suggest that Russia's ability to strike across Europe means that any engagement with NATO forces in frontline countries like the Baltic states and...