A nuclear map has revealed the exact devastation a nuclear bomb would cause in the UK if one was to be dropped by Russia – with much of one city wiped out by the blast
It’s a grim thought but just a few weeks ago, the Doomsday Clock was adjusted one second closer to midnight, signifying that the world is now a mere 89 metaphorical seconds away from annihilation, according to scientists. Factors contributing to this perceived risk include the potential, however remote, of nuclear warfare.
Much like pandemic preparedness, every major western government has contingency plans for dealing with nuclear attacks on large cities, and the UK is no exception. When Russia invaded Ukraine, numerous analysts feared it could mark the first significant step towards WW3 – war returning to European soil.
With Donald Trump currently in discussions with Vladimir Putin about the invasion – while Ukraine is excluded from participating – and EU countries increasing their defence budgets, the conflict appears to be escalating. Furthermore, Trump has mentioned acquiring Greenland and Canada, both NATO territories – which could provoke a military reaction.
Meanwhile, UK PM Keir Starmer has pledged to support Ukraine against Russia with troops if necessary. However unlikely, if Russia were to launch one of its many nuclear warheads at the UK, what would be the extent of the damage?
The NuclearSecrecy.com website features a tool, known as the Nuke Map, that provides estimates of the damage that could be caused by various nuclear arms. Developed by Alex Wellerstein, a science and nuclear weapons expert at the Stevens Institute of Technology, this resource can be used to visualize the destructive power of nuclear attacks, reports the Express.
One of the options available is the Topol SS-25, an 800-megaton nuclear warhead in Russia’s arsenal. If dropped in the heart of Westminster in Central London, it would lead to unprecedented devastation.
A 2.97 km2 area of central London would be completely eradicated, with the Nuke Map noting: “Maximum size of the nuclear fireball; relevance to damage on the ground depends on the height of detonation. If it touches the ground, the amount of radioactive fallout is significantly increased. Anything inside the fireball is effectively vaporised.”
This area would include parts of Westminster, St James’s Palace and the London Eye. The moderate blast damage radius would impact an area of 134 km2, causing widespread destruction and fires.
According to the map: “At 5 psi overpressure, most residential buildings collapse, injuries are universal, fatalities are widespread. The chances of a fire starting in commercial and residential damage are high, and buildings so damaged are at high risk of spreading fire. Often used as a benchmark for moderate damage in cities.”
Affected areas would include Camden, Kensington, Brixton, Shoreditch, St Pancras, Clapham, Chelsea, Clapham Junction, Paddington and Battersea. The third zone, spanning 384km2 and encompassing areas like Chiswick, Streatham, Tooting, Stratford, Hampstead, Lewisham, Greenwich, Sydenham, Fulham and Walthamstow, could face devastating effects in the event of a blast.
The nuke map doesn’t pull any punches about the potential consequences: “Third degree burns extend throughout the layers of skin, and are often painless because they destroy the pain nerves. They can cause severe scarring or disablement, and can require amputation.”
The outskirts of London would experience lighter damage, with places including Wembley, Edgware, Hounslow, Barking, Chipping Barnet, Croydon, Sutton, Woolwhich and Enfield at risk of shattered windows. In this zone: “At around 1 psi overpressure, glass windows can be expected to break. This can cause many injuries in a surrounding population who comes to a window after seeing the flash of a nuclear explosion (which travels faster than the pressure wave). Often used as a benchmark for light damage in cities.”
Meanwhile, the UK government has assured its citizens, through gov.uk, that its nuclear deterrent exists precisely to prevent such horrors: “The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for over 60 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, helping to guarantee our safety, and that of our NATO allies.
“The risk of nuclear conflict remains remote, but the threats the UK faces are increasing in scale, diversity and complexity. That is why we must be able to deter the most extreme acts of aggression against us and our NATO allies.
“The UK has taken a consistent and leading approach on nuclear disarmament but not all states have followed. Some are significantly increasing and diversifying their nuclear capabilities. We must ensure they can never use their nuclear weapons to threaten us, constrain our decision making, or sponsor nuclear terrorism.
“It may sometimes feel that these threats are far removed from our daily lives, but the UK must have the capability to protect itself and our NATO allies. Deterrence plays a key role in keeping the public safe, and to abandon our nuclear deterrent would put us all at greater risk.
“Since April 1969, the Royal Navy has maintained continuous at sea deterrence, with at least one nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine patrolling the seas undetected at all times, ready to respond to the most extreme threats to the UK. Their fundamental purpose is to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression.
“This continuous at sea deterrent (CASD) is the most capable, resilient, and cost-effective platform on which to deploy our independent nuclear deterrent.”
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