Ask HN: Will Russia start nuclear war?

2 points by scared333 3 years ago | 13 comments

Russia is suffering a humiliating defeats in Ukraine not seen since WW2. Will their leadership resort to use of nuclear weapons?

We're moving to Berlin (from CA) next spring (my wife got an internal transfer there), but the way things are, I am a bit antsy.

Sorry about the throwaway account. My wives teammates nor our friends or neighbours here aren't aware of our plans yet.

aintmeit 3 years ago |

Even without the threat of nuclear weapons, a country can fall apart all on its own through self-sabotage. I think people should be far more scared of self-inflicted harm. It's also the one risk that can be truly mitigated simply by making sound choices. However, no one likes to think that they are the problem, so they pin their hopes and fears on external causes, or as a shrink would call it, an external locus of control. In the meantime, just laugh away the pain and muffle screams of anguish because we're way past the point of no return.

Trouble_007 3 years ago |

"IF" which I doubt.

Nuclear Weapon Yield : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon_yield

Variable Yield, a.k.a. Dial-a-Yield, is an option available on most modern nuclear weapons : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_yield

dandanua 3 years ago |

No, they can afford to lose a lot of things. Check my analysis https://dandanua.github.io/posts/nuclear-terror-and-game-the...

RegnisGnaw 3 years ago |

I'm thinking yes to battlefield nuclear weapons. Nothing bigger then that.

daemoens 3 years ago | |

Battlefield nukes have almost no benefits with an incredible number of downsides. Russia would become a pariah to the few allies they have left, and the fallout would hurt the territory they want to capture.

epirogov 3 years ago |

these are such minor things, where exactly to catch this

shrimp_emoji 3 years ago |

No?

vbezhenar 3 years ago |

If things will proceed as they are, they'll wipe civilization. Russia can't afford to lose, it'll cease to exist. And if the alternative is to cease to exist, they'll kill everything in the Earth as well. Putin said recently: "Why do we need a world, if there's no Russia in this world".

I really hope that Russia will capture Ukraine. I don't support this war, but that would be the best outcome in current circumstances. Alternative is far worse.

dandanua 3 years ago | |

> Russia can't afford to lose, it'll cease to exist

Brain dead. Though it's normal for a rusсist.

type0 3 years ago | |

> I really hope that Russia will capture Ukraine. I don't support this war, but...

I really hope you will move to Russia then, if you already don't live there

vbezhenar 3 years ago | | |

So do I.

sidibe 3 years ago | |

Russia can afford to lose. Putin can't afford to lose, but that's fine because as Ukraine momentum continues he will be removed or forced to resign and whoever follows can end the conflict and blame everything on him.

genman 3 years ago | | |

Precisely.