Russian TV Airs Map of Possible Nuclear Strikes on NATO Capitals

A Kremlin propagandist has said which European cities might be targeted by Russian nuclear missiles, adding that the U.K. would be the most vulnerable to such strikes.

Yevgeny Popov is among the anchors and guests on Russia's state television who have made repeated threats against Western countries for their support of Ukraine in its fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression.

This hawkish rhetoric frequently includes calls for missile strikes on European capitals, although the effects of Russia's use of weapons may be exaggerated and it is not clear how the claims by TV guests reflect Kremlin thinking.

However, Popov returned to this theme in reacting to the pledge by Washington and Berlin that, as part of its commitment to NATO, the U.S. will start deploying long-range missiles in Germany in 2026. This would include stationing SM-6 and Tomahawk cruise missiles, as well as developmental hypersonic weapons.

In a clip posted on X, formerly Twitter, by Ukrainian internal affairs adviser, Anton Gerashchenko, Popov, who is a deputy of the 8th State Duma [one of the chambers of the Russian parliament] in Russia, accused the U.S. of "throwing Europe into the melting pot of a world war with guaranteed mutual destruction."

Standing in front of a video wall of a map of Europe, Popov said that the Pentagon will deploy missiles that "pose a dire threat to Russia." He added that the weapons have the ability to reach cities such as St. Petersburg, Kazan, Moscow, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg, whose locations lit up on the screen behind him.

"We are talking about missiles that fall under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which was destroyed by Trump," Popov said, referring to how the U.S. withdrew from the arms control treaty in 2019.

When contacted for comment, Newsweek was referred by the Pentagon to comments by its deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh on July 12 in which she said the missiles would go to Germany in "episodic deployments" which will help "inform planning for ensuring future stationing."

"In terms of the message that it sends, we are working in close collaboration with the German government and the Army to continue to finalize these details," Singh added.

Referring to the Russian exclave that is bordered by NATO's members Poland and Lithuania in the Baltic Sea and the July 12 pledge, Popov said: "It is not difficult to assume the geography of a response if the White House press statement becomes a reThese capitals include Berlin, in Germany; Warsaw, Poland; Paris, France; Bucharest, Romania; and Prague, Czech Republic; as well as American bases in Germany, which are then shown on the screen in quick succession.

Popov said that Russia's Northern Fleet will take on Britain, "our traditional enemy," and that Washington's proposals for deployment to Germany not only threatens London but also Manchester, Birmingham and British naval base in Clyde, Scotland.

ality. All European capitals are at risk if our missiles are in Kaliningrad."

"Britain is the most vulnerable. All it takes is three missiles, and this civilization will collapse," Popov added. Next to the video, Gerashchenko wrote, "attention, EU and UK! Russian state TV channel showed a map of nuclear strikes on European capitals."

In response, a British foreign office spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement: "This is the latest example of irresponsible Russian nuclear rhetoric and signaling."

Source: Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com