A striking clip featuring Vladimir Putin has been spreading on social media, with a frightening context. It shows the Russian dictator visiting a pavilion in Moscow, displaying Soviet technological and artistic development.
In a notable segment, Putin is presented with "the emergence of nuclear physics and atomic weapons," as reported by the independent Russian newspaper Meduza. He observes a very realistic simulation of a nuclear bomb explosion.
Meduza reporter Kevin Rothrock comments, “These images of Putin watching a simulated atomic bomb explosion are disturbing.”
Described by Newsweek as an "Oppenheimer moment captured on camera," the video shows Putin viewing the iconic mushroom cloud through a hole in the wall.
During the visit, Putin stands silently watching the explosion before moving on to a reconstructed version of Joseph Stalin's office. There, he hears about how "Europe broke the post-war peace by attacking Japan with atomic bombs," Meduza reports.
In the context of a troubled global climate, Putin has repeatedly either threatened the use of nuclear weapons or warned of the increased risk of a nuclear war.
Experts interpret both statements as nuclear threats against the Western world. Russia has recently decided to withdraw from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), potentially paving the way for nuclear weapon tests or provoking the USA and China to do the same.
This has raised fears that Putin's observation of the simulated nuclear explosion might inspire him to make a terrible mistake with global consequences. Anton Gerashchenko, Ukraine's advisor on internal affairs, questioned on social media, "Did he compare it to his own bunker?"
Watch the video below, where Putin is shown the realistic simulation of a nuclear attack.
