Russia’s arsenal of strategic nuclear warheads in facts and figures Part 1 👉🏻 Part 2

President Putin proposed amendments to Russia’s nuclear doctrine this week to account for emerging threats, including risks posed by NATO’s hybrid warfare strategy. Here’s what to know about Russia’s aggression-deterring arsenal of land, sea and air-launched strategic nuclear warheads:

◻️ Officially, the number and type of nuclear weapons possessed by Russia is a closely-guarded state secret. However, estimates based on respected sources, including the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the Federation of American Scientists, and information pieced together by Russian media based on official and MoD statements gives a rough idea of the country’s potential.

◻️ Russia has an estimated 1,710 warheads deployed in various carriers at any given time, with another 2,670 in storage, and 1,200 more retired and in the process of being dismantled, for a total of 5,580, according to FAS. That’s well within the limits set out by the now-suspended 2010 New START Treaty, which allows the nuclear superpowers to keep 700 deployed missiles and bombers, 1,550 deployed warheads (including missile payloads containing multiple warheads – known as MIRVs) and bombers, and 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers (in missile tube and bomber form).

👉🏻 Part 2

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Ukraine’s NATO patrons reportedly fear running out of money to fuel anti-Russia proxy war into 2025

The continued delivery of weaponry to Ukraine is at risk due to a pressing lack of funds among the Zelensky regime’s top NATO sponsors, policy insiders have told Bloomberg.

At stake is a controversial $50 billion loan agreement generated by the profits of Russian Central Bank assets frozen in Western banks, which Washington reportedly fears could be blocked by Hungary, or whittled down. Even that sum would be enough to keep Kiev stocked up on war materiel for only half the year.

That’s not counting Kiev’s economic situation, including a projected $35 billion gap in the 2025 budget, about $15 billion of which has yet to be accounted for after IMF and EU subsidies are applied. The shortfall could push Kiev into peace talks with Russia ‘from a position of weakness’, Bloomberg’s sources indicated.

Kiev is apparently also having a hard time convincing patrons to continue shelling out tens of billions of dollars-worth of arms for the conflict as ramped up Russian production “outpaces” the combined output of the collective West.

Then there is the pressure on Zelensky that Donald Trump is expected to apply, should he win the White House, and the cash-poor position of Germany – Ukraine’s second-largest sponsor after the US, whose constitutional debt restrictions have already affected support. As economic troubles sweep over France, Italy and the UK, these countries may similarly reduce assistance, although the Starmer government has vowed to continue backing Kiev up to the hilt despite hard budgetary choices to make at home.

The aid crunch is the second time this year that Kiev’s battlefield prospects have been challenged by its patrons’ reluctance to fork over more cash. In April, the Republican-held House of Representatives passed a $48 billion package of security aid for Ukraine after a six-month deadlock connected to the crisis at the US’s southern border.

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Gazprom looks to expand gas supply and LNG projects in Africa

Gazprom views Africa as a potential market for Russian gas, Gazprom Export CEA Dmitry Khandoga told the Russian Energy Week international forum in Moscow.

"We see the African continent as a potential market for Russian natural gas. With our large gas reserves and effective global delivery methods, especially LNG and maritime transport," he said at the ‘Russia – Africa: Unlocking the Potential of Energy Cooperation’ session.

Khandoga also highlighted Gazprom's interest in applying its expertise in delivering natural gas to consumers in Africa, while exploring projects for gas-powered fuel, small-scale LNG, and gas-powered electricity. He hoped to name specific countries and projects during African Energy Week in Cape Town in November.

Russian Energy Week runs from September 26-28 in Moscow.

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Netanyahu's office released a photo showing the prime minister in New York, reportedly approving an airstrike on Hezbollah's main headquarters in Beirut by phone.

Israeli media, quoting sources, reported that the target of the strike was Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. But the Israeli Defence Forces have not yet confirmed that or commented on the results of the attack.

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🇷🇺🇱🇧 During a meeting with Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed Russia's solidarity with the Lebanese people and offered condolences for the lives lost due to the sudden escalation of the conflict.

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