A “doomsday map” has intensified global anxiety by outlining seven locations in the United States that Vladimir Putin could theoretically target with nuclear weapons if a large-scale conflict erupted.
The warning arrives against a backdrop of worsening geopolitical strain. Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, analysts say relations among major nuclear powers have frayed significantly.
American support for Ukraine was initially authorized by Joe Biden, prompting swift backlash from Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the decision as “reckless, dangerous, aimed at a qualitative change, a qualitative increase in the level of involvement of the United States in this conflict,” according to Reuters. He reinforced earlier warnings from Putin that Western assistance constitutes “direct involvement” by the U.S. and NATO.
Donald Trump’s military operations
Friction in the Middle East has added another volatile layer. On June 21, Donald Trump confirmed U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” he said the day of the operation, according to CNN.
Donald Trump shared a post on Truth Social saying: “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”
Two days later, Iran launched a missile strike on Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. base in the region. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that “Iran will not leave any attack on its sovereignty unanswered,” adding that “US bases in the region are not strengths but vulnerabilities,” according to BBC News.
State of the Union speech
Tensions escalated further on Tuesday, when Donald Trump addressed Tehran during his State of the Union speech. He asserted that Iran is expanding its missile capabilities, saying: “They’ve already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America,” per The Independent.
Trump continued: “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon.”
He also accused Iran’s leadership of internal repression: “They’ve killed at least 32,000 protesters in their own country – they shot a lot of them and hung them,” and described the regime as “some terrible people,” according to VT.
U.S. targets on Putin’s nuclear “hit list”
The United States has also ordered nonessential diplomats and their families to leave the embassy in Beirut and has withdrawn personnel from key bases in Syria and Qatar.
Despite these developments, Russia has avoided direct military involvement. Some experts interpret this as a calculated choice. However, Russia’s alignment with Iran, alongside escalating American involvement, suggests global tensions are intensifying.
A now-deleted Russian state TV broadcast, reported by Metro, allegedly identified several American sites as potential nuclear targets in the event of war. No official confirmation has verified that these locations are active targets, but the report has amplified international concern, according to VT.
The locations reportedly identified:
- The Pentagon — The central hub of U.S. military operations.
- Camp David — A presidential retreat.
- Jim Creek Naval Radio Station — A key communications facility for Pacific-based submarines.
- Fort Ritchie — An emergency bunker for U.S. military leadership.
- McClellan Air Force Base — Closed in 2001 but reportedly still noted by Russian intelligence, possibly as a decoy or outdated reference.
- Kirtland Air Force Base — A facility associated with U.S. nuclear stockpiles.
- Pantex Plant — Houses nuclear weapons.
Warnings about escalation have grown. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Putin has “already started WW3.”
“I believe that Putin has already started it,” he told BBC News, according to VT. “The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him… Russia wants to impose on the world a different way of life and change the lives people have chosen for themselves.”
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