Month: June 2026

On this day in 1996, Ukraine transferred the last of its inherited Soviet strategic nuclear warheads to Russia for dismantling, completing denuclearization under the Budapest Memorandum framework and affirming its non-nuclear status, according to its new Constitution.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited up to 2,156 Soviet nuclear warheads for inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and cruise missiles and stored up to 4,200 tactical nuclear warheads on its territory.

For example, Ukraine hosted hundreds of Soviet ICBMs that were stationed in its underground silos and targeted the United States: 130 liquid-fueled SS-19 Stiletto and 46 solid-fueled SS-24 Scalpel. Besides that, Ukraine inherited 43 Soviet doomsday bombers Тu-95 і Тu-160, that were able to carry and launch nuclear armed cruise missiles.

In the eve of the Russian full-scale invasion that began in 2022, more and more Ukrainian people criticize the nuclear disarmament of the 90s, and wish the nuclear warheads and bombers still be in possession, as a deterrence.

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— @MrKovalenko Jun 1, 2026