Daily Star: a pinpoint nuclear strike by Russia on the UK would instantly kill 259,000 people 0 14

The British media is discussing an interactive map that models in detail the consequences of a Russian nuclear strike on the territory of the United Kingdom.

According to calculations presented by the Daily Star, a pinpoint strike on three strategic targets could lead to the immediate death of approximately a quarter of a million people, while the consequences in terms of radiation contamination and long-term health effects for survivors would be catastrophic. This simulation, based on the publicly available tool NUKEMAP, is not an official forecast from the intelligence community but reflects deeply rooted societal fears of potential escalation of tensions.

The analytical model suggests that the most likely targets for a hypothetical strike would be key objects of the UK's defense infrastructure. These include the largest naval base in Plymouth, which is a cornerstone of the Royal Navy. The scenario assumes the use of a missile with a nuclear warhead of a hypothetical yield of 800 kilotons. In this case, according to the modeling, a fireball with a diameter of over one kilometer would form directly at the epicenter of the explosion, instantly destroying everything within a radius of 5.16 square kilometers. The zone of total destruction from the shockwave could reach 12.8 square kilometers. The total number of fatalities in Plymouth and its surroundings, taking into account thermal radiation capable of causing fatal burns at a distance of nearly 10 kilometers, could exceed 133,000 people. About 86,000 more people would sustain serious injuries. Theoretically, the shockwave could be felt hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter.

The second target, according to expert analysis, could be a Ministry of Defense facility in the Telford area, in the settlement of Donnington. With similar strike parameters, over 71,000 people are predicted to die here, along with around 49,000 injured. The map shows that even areas located at a significant distance from the epicenter could face devastating consequences, and up to 15 percent of survivors in the long term could become victims of cancers triggered by radiation exposure.

The third key point is Barrow-in-Furness — the location of the only submarine construction facility in the country. In this scenario, the number of casualties could be around 54,000 dead, and the area of significant destruction would cover vast territories in northern England. In total, three strikes, according to this model, would lead to nearly 259,000 immediate human losses.

The publication of such calculations comes amid escalating diplomatic rhetoric. The Daily Star notes recent sharp statements from some Russian public figures and politicians, which are interpreted as threats in Western media. In particular, it mentions the words of the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergey Lavrov, regarding security conditions for Europe, as well as comments from others suggesting a hypothetical military confrontation. It is important to emphasize that Moscow's official position has repeatedly stated that it has no aggressive intentions towards European countries, but, as the British publication writes, reserves the right to take retaliatory measures in the event of a direct threat.