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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Cormac O'Shea & Sophie Collins

Everything you need to know about Russia's Ireland threat and could Putin actually nuke a country?

Russian State TV has set off alarm bells after posting a video of a nuclear attack that would turn Ireland into a "radioactive desert".

In the report, TV presenter and close contact of Putin, Dmitry Kiselyov, showed an underwater missile being detonated just off the coast of Donegal.

Kiselyov is an associate of Putin and anything posted on the state channel would not have happened without the Russian leader's approval.

Read more: Vladimir Putin's 'lover' reappears in Moscow after 'hiding in Swiss mountains'

The video has already frightened many in Ireland who now fear we could be dragged into the next world war based on the country being an entry point to Europe.

Here's all you need to know about the threat;

What has Russia threatened?

Russian TV anchor Dmitry Kiselyov and showed an underwater missile being set off just off the coast of Donegal.

Putin's puppets say it would destroy the "British Isles" but at no point mention Ireland, despite maps showing we would be hit first by the weapon.

The host explains: "Another option is to plunge Britain into the depths of sea using Russia's unmanned underwater vehicle Poisedon.

"It approaches its target at a depth of 1km at a speed of 200km/h. There's no way of stopping this underwater drone. The warhead on it has a yield of up to 100 megatonnes.

"The explosion of this thermonuclear torpedo by Britain's coastline will cause a gigantic tsunami wave up to 500m high.

"Such a barrage alone also carries extreme doses of radiation. Having passed over the British Isles, it will turn what might be left of them into a radioactive desert."

What is the Poisedon weapon?

The Poseidon - being readied for service - is described as a giant nuclear-capable torpedo.

Details of its high-speed 125 mph underwater propulsion system of the atomic powered underwater drone are regarded as top secret.

Putin has boasted that it has an “unlimited range”, and said three years ago: “Work is going according to plan.”

Could an attack actually happen?

Tom Clonan, Senator, retired army officer, and Security Analyst told Newstalk Breakfast that this threat is “significant on a number of levels.”

The former officer added: "“They’re fighting a war of aggression in Ukraine which is at the very eastern fringes of Europe and we’re at the very western frame but we don’t have any capacity to monitor our ocean space or economic area,” he explained.

(Archive Photos)

“But also, if this drone is launched underwater, they’re saying to the brits that your missile shield won’t work because we will do this underwater.”

Although many people are sounding the alarm online, Clonan said the chances of the missile actually being launched in Ireland’s direction are “extremely small.”

“I know there will be many people listening to this who will be very frightened by this, or it may provoke fear and unease, but the chances of this happening are extremely small.

“This is propaganda.”

READ MORE: Ukrainian community in Ireland praised after wonderful gesture as they clean up Dublin canals

READ MORE: Vladimir Putin set to 'disappear' as he faces surgery over cancer fears amid official warning

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