FACT CHECK: Is Russia About to Fire the First Nuclear Weapon of World War III?

A viral tweet claims that Russia is on the verge of firing the first nuclear weapon of World War III.

I JUST RECEIVED WORD RUSSIA MAY BE ABOUT TO FIRE THE FIRST NUCLEAR WEAPON OF WW3 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

⚠️ TURN NOTIFICATIONS ON IMMEDIATELY FOR URGENT UPDATES ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/n6Fj9RNtDB

— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) November 19, 2024

 Verdict: Misleading

There is no evidence that Russia is about to fire a nuclear weapon. The image used in the tweet is from a 2022 Russian missile drill and does not reflect current events. While heightened rhetoric around nuclear weapons persists, there is no confirmation of such plans from credible sources.

Fact Check:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold required for the country to respond with nuclear weapons if provoked, according to The New York Times. The decree came days after U.S. President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike Russian territory, the outlet reported.

The tweet claims that Russia is seeking an imminent nuclear escalation, warning the country was planning to use nuclear weapons. However, the image used was originally published by the Russian Defense Ministry in October 2022, showing a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile being test-fired as part of routine drills as mentioned by Fox. (RELATED: Did Ukraine Fire U.S.-Made Missiles Against Civilians In Russia?)

While Russia has updated its nuclear doctrine, stating it may respond with nuclear weapons if attacked by a conventional force backed by a nuclear power, this is largely seen as saber-rattling. President Vladimir Putin has previously used nuclear rhetoric to intimidate Western nations, especially after recent authorizations by the U.S. and its allies for Ukraine to use long-range weapons such as ATACMS against Russian targets.

A USA Today analysis highlights that President Biden’s authorization for Ukraine to strike inside Russia with these missiles has amplified concerns about escalation, with some political figures describing it as a step toward World War III. However, such claims lack definitive evidence.