Secret Russian military documents seen by the FT show Russia had plans to target sites deep within Europe using nuclear-capable missiles in a potential conflict with NATO.
Maps showed targets as far as the west coast of France and the UK, predating the Ukraine invasion.
The documents, from 2008-2014, outlined targeting of military and infrastructure sites across Europe using missiles that can carry nuclear or conventional warheads.
Russia highlighted using early nuclear strikes and retaining nuclear weapons on surface ships, which experts say increases risks.
Maps in the documents modeled strikes on 32 NATO targets as a sample, but one analyst believed Russia mapped thousands of targets across Europe.
Analysts said Russia views nuclear weapons as potentially war-winning and would use them quickly. Tactical nuclear weapons could still cause significant damage.
The documents reference demonstration strikes to intimidate the West and show Russia’s readiness to use nuclear weapons.
Russia prioritized weakening the West militarily and economically, meaning strikes on civilian sites and infrastructure.
Combining nuclear and conventional strikes was meant to pressure the West into negotiating, according to analysts.
Recent Russian exercises showed retaining tactical nuclear weapons at sea and on land missiles remains current doctrine.
Source: Financial Times
