Are you worried this is the start of ww3 and nukes will be used ?

[LovelyYellowLabrador]

Or do you think realistically no one will start to use Nuclear weapons

@MagicFox

Literally nothing. Not even like being asleep. The best way I can describe it is a time-skip.

i have batteries for my radio
and need to buy beans if we cannot use electricity we can eat beans.

other than that. no, not even bottled water

Not worried at all. We are pretty lucky right now to have the privilege of being able to sit in our houses and discuss this and other issues on MN. That's how I put it into perspective for myself. In any case, is vanishingly unlikely and even if it weren't, there would be no point worrying about it.

Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't even have nuclear warheads

Meh. I wouldn't care too much, as long as I were wiped out in the initial blast. I live in London.

Putin's mistress and children are in a chalet in Switzerland, Defence Minister stepdaughter in a 4 million pound flat in London. They are not in bunkers. There are no tanks or aircraft or armies invading Russia. Oligarchs want to enjoy their money not spend it on ashes. So no, no nukes. All about negotiation.

I honestly don't see how anyone can say that it's "vanishingly unlikely". If he's terminally ill (people think he may be), or feeling very humiliated (may be starting to happen), or feels that his own political power is waning (also likely) he could well want everyone to go down with him. Think of those airline pilots who deliberately crashed their planes along with hundreds of passengers. There have been several of them.

Putin can’t unilaterally decide to nuke NATO countries. Doesn’t matter if he’s mad, he cannot act alone and he does not hold all positional power in Russia despite the illusion that he does.

You’d need quite a few more people to sign up to a suicide mission. Which is extremely unlikely.

@Gerbilteeth

I honestly don't see how anyone can say that it's "vanishingly unlikely". If he's terminally ill (people think he may be), or feeling very humiliated (may be starting to happen), or feels that his own political power is waning (also likely) he could well want everyone to go down with him. Think of those airline pilots who deliberately crashed their planes along with hundreds of passengers. There have been several of them.

I don't mean this rudely but you don't seem to know much about the process required to launch a nuclear weapon - even when it's a dictator launching them. You might find it helpful to read up on it. It's not going to happen due to a one-man suicide mission or loss of power.

What do you think the process to launch a nuclear weapon would be in, let's say, North Korea? Where the dictator is surrounded by loyal armed guards, and where people are routinely executed, with their families being sent to labour camps? Where senior ministers are killed if they piss the dictator off for any reason? Do you think there would be a sensible rational process to follow before a missile was launched?

@Theyellowandthegreen

What do you think the process to launch a nuclear weapon would be in, let's say, North Korea? Where the dictator is surrounded by loyal armed guards, and where people are routinely executed, with their families being sent to labour camps? Where senior ministers are killed if they piss the dictator off for any reason? Do you think there would be a sensible rational process to follow before a missile was launched?

No, I don't. We're not talking about North Korea in this context, though.

@DazzlingDarrenDring

Nope

Had a wobble about three weeks ago but stopped watching the news and felt better immediately.

I would urge anyone who is suffering anxiety or intrusive thoughts about ' Nuclear War' to try the following things...

1. Limit your news intake. In this 24/7 news cycle world, even the most reputable sources are going for the most sensational view point to ensure viewing or website clicks , hence the ' Nuclear' stuff . Watch Newsround with your kids, or listen to a short radio bulletin once a day.

1. Limit your social media activity..including this website! avoid ' War' topics. Avoid doom scrolling. There's always a paid ' expert' ready to peddle a doomsday scenario for an appearance fee, or for a raised profile.

1. Search out good news websites, and get your internet hit from that. Search YouTube for old kids TV programmes you used to watch.

1. Read a comforting book. Put Stephen King or Val McDermaid down and pick up ' Wind in the Willows ' or ' Huckleberry Finn ' .

1. Watch boxsets and films that are happy and life affirming. Avoid drama and ' real crime'.

1. Same as above with podcasts. Try the old desert island discs from the BBC archives.

1. Use any and all Wellbeing resources in your workplace.

1. Look around you. Is anyone else panicking? has anyone else stopped planning for the future? of course they haven't.

1. Think of all the other things that have been ' the end of the world' that you now probably don't think about - Terrorist Attacks, ISIS, Covid-19, Climate Change.

10. Context. We are not in this war. We are not going to be. We have been in wars in Afghanistan etc. Did you worry about those? . There are other wars in this world as well happening now ( Yemen, Syria, genocide in China ) , but they aren't as ' close' and the media know people aren't bothered. Look how scaled back the reporting has been as well since this war started . It's like the media know that it's not going to escalate, rather that it's going to end in parts of Ukraine being under Russian rule.

I had a wobble a few weeks ago too. I think you've given some great advice to the OP! (in fact I'm going to look back at this when I'm next panicking about anything else!)

The only thing I would say is that it's fine to just avoid the News altogether for a period of time if it helps, rather than catching up once a day- I've avoided the News for a week now and feel so much better for it!

Toast, Putin is quite happy to change laws as it suits him.

Let's hope that chain of command is does exist!

Gerbil teeth I agree and it's a reason I'd like to know knee about his family ties, state of mind etc for.
In spite of the rally he attended being extremely distasteful, I was heartened that he cares enough to go to one!

@PaperTyger

Toast, Putin is quite happy to change laws as it suits him.

Let's hope that chain of command is does exist!

You can change laws - it's difficult to change an entire, complicated process that ultimately does need certain members of the military to carry out commands. A nuclear weapon can't be launched by Putin alone - quite simply, I doubt he would know how to do it.

Well I'm 50 and no, I'm not worried. I grew up with the constant threat of nuclear war. It's nothing new to me. I can remember the very same scenario from as young as eight years old when I can remember my dad showing a family friend the door because she was banging on about it in front of me, everyone was worrying, time and time again, it never happened, the world went on.

This, from the New York Times today, isn't very reassuring:
"After Biden met with NATO leaders, the group said it would activate a task force to deal with a chemical, biological or nuclear attack."

I’m 57 and grew up in the Cold War. This is worse than anything then and I’m a tad concerned.

@Theyellowandthegreen

This, from the New York Times today, isn't very reassuring: "After Biden met with NATO leaders, the group said it would activate a task force to deal with a chemical, biological or nuclear attack."

Not worrying at all. It's just common sense to have plans in place for all scenarios.

If putin orders the use of chemical weapons or tactical nuclear weapons, this appears to be a line that NATO won't tolerate, if it's crossed. Nobody knows what Biden means when he pointed this out.

Seeing as putrid's military leaders have been raiding the Russian army coffers, they've probably sold the nuclear warheads to North Korea and stuffed the bombs with straw instead 😆

@Liamgallaghersparka

Well I'm 50 and no, I'm not worried. I grew up with the constant threat of nuclear war. It's nothing new to me. I can remember the very same scenario from as young as eight years old when I can remember my dad showing a family friend the door because she was banging on about it in front of me, everyone was worrying, time and time again, it never happened, the world went on.

I'm not sure this is anything more than slightly relevant? Because something bad doesn't happen this year, doesn't mean it won't next year. There were some very close calls during the Cold War.

Seeing as putrid's military leaders have been raiding the Russian army coffers, they've probably sold the nuclear warheads to North Korea and stuffed the bombs with straw instead

Brilliant. 😂

@ClaudineClare

Seeing as putrid's military leaders have been raiding the Russian army coffers, they've probably sold the nuclear warheads to North Korea and stuffed the bombs with straw instead

Brilliant. 😂

Given the military hardware Russia has been 'showcasing' in Ukraine I think North Korea will be looking to see if they can be returned for a refund.

@Bobodebo

Putin can’t unilaterally decide to nuke NATO countries. Doesn’t matter if he’s mad, he cannot act alone and he does not hold all positional power in Russia despite the illusion that he does.

You’d need quite a few more people to sign up to a suicide mission. Which is extremely unlikely.

Yeah but the two other people in that chain of command haven't been seen in public for a while. This gives me the willies

I think there is a reasonable chance that Russia will use a small controlled nuclear weapon in Ukraine ( maybe similar in size to that used in Japan) if they keep being thwarted . They will be banking on no retaliation from NATO and I am pretty sure they will be right . I think they.will use chemical weapons first though and a nuclear weapon only if Ukraine doesn't capitulate within a month or two at most.

I don't think they will use one on anyone else and even if they do use it on Ukraine I don't think anyone will retaliate . It will be absolutely appalling for Ukraine but I don't believe it will lead to WW3. That won't happen unless Russia directly threatens or attacks a NATO country