The Tampa Bay Times: What are ‘tactical’ nuclear weapons...?

Scholars say if Russia used tactical nuclear weapons it would be for shock value

Any use of a nuclear weapon by Russia would break the 77-year “taboo” against using nuclear weapons, says an article on Russia’s targeted nuclear arsenal, published in the Tampa Bay Times

It’s estimated Russia has about 2,000 tactical nuclear bombs.

“Just because these nuclear weapons are considered small doesn’t mean their impacts would be minor,” UC political scientist Brendan Green told the Times.

In the Russian nuclear arsenal, he said, most nuclear weapons that would be considered “tactical” would be “as large or larger than the bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki” to end World War II, said Green, an associate professor in UC's School of Public and International Affairs. 

If used, the country would like be alienated by the world for a lengthy period.

Read the entire article  

Featured image at top of radiation symbol courtesy of Unsplash.

Impact Lives Here

The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.

Related Stories

1

UC grad and Honda employee helps race team win Indy 500

June 11, 2026

UC engineering graduate JP Suozzi helped driver Felix Rosenqvist win the Indianapolis 500 as a trackside engineer with Honda Racing. While on co-op with Meyer Shank Racing, Suozzi monitored Honda engine performance at the track, contributing to the closest finish in Indy 500 history.

2

Taking a second look at surgery eligibility for patients with lung cancer who smoke

June 11, 2026

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine have found that patients who continue to smoke ahead of lung cancer surgery have a higher risk of pulmonary complications, but their short-term mortality rate is similar to patients who were able to stop smoking before surgery.. Their findings were published recently in the Journal of. American College of Surgeons

3

Pocket-sized population threat

June 10, 2026

The Financial Times took a deep dive into why populations around the world continue to be on the decline. The publication cited new University of Cincinnati research as part of the investigation that looks at the fall of fertility in the digital era.