Nuke map shows what will happen if Russia or Iran strikes UK in 'WW3'

It’s not a scenario anyone wants to picture, but it is something the UK Government has quietly prepared for. While the risk of a nuclear attack remains low, officials have been warning that Britain must become more resilient in case of future global conflicts.

In fact, earlier this summer, ministers urged citizens to be better prepared for the possibility of war in Britain, pointing to rising international tensions from the war in Ukraine to conflicts involving Gaza and Iran. Russian propagandists have increasingly threatened Western capitals, including London, raising understandable concerns.

What plans does the UK have?

Like all major powers, the UK has contingency measures in place for dealing with nuclear strikes on major cities. Officials are planning cross-government exercises later this year to simulate responses to crises similar to how governments prepared for pandemics.

How bad could the damage be?

To understand the potential impact, experts often use Nuke Map, a tool created by historian Alex Wellerstein. It shows the scale of destruction based on different nuclear weapons currently in the Russian arsenal.

If Russia used a Topol SS-25 missile (around 800 kilotons) on central London with Westminster as the target the consequences would be catastrophic:

• Fireball zone (2.97 km²): Everything inside this radius would be vaporised, including landmarks like St James’s Palace and the London Eye.
• Moderate blast damage (134 km²): Most residential buildings would collapse, fires would break out, and casualties would be widespread. This would cover Camden, Kensington, Brixton, Shoreditch, Chelsea, Paddington, Battersea, and more.
• Thermal radiation zone (384 km²): Severe third-degree burns would affect people across Chiswick, Stratford, Hampstead, Lewisham, Greenwich, and Fulham.
• Light blast damage (outer London): Areas like Wembley, Croydon, Barking, Sutton, Woolwich, and Enfield would experience shattered windows and widespread injuries from flying glass.

Would the UK retaliate?

The UK government stresses that its independent nuclear deterrent is specifically designed to prevent such a disaster from ever happening. Britain has relied on its continuous at-sea deterrent (CASD) since 1969, meaning that at least one submarine armed with nuclear missiles is always on patrol and ready to respond.

As stated on GOV.UK, the risk of nuclear conflict is still considered remote, but deterrence is seen as essential to prevent enemies from using nuclear weapons to threaten or coerce the UK or its NATO allies.