The number of online articles mentioning the keywords "nuclear" together with "Russia" or "Ukraine" and in combination with "war," "weapons," "conflict," "missile," "threat," "bomb," and "submarine" increased sharply worldwide in March 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine a month prior. In March 2022 alone, over 154,300 articles published on the internet in 65 languages contained the combination of "Russia" or "Ukraine," "nuclear," and "war."
Nuclear rhetoric during the Russia-Ukraine war
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, politicians across the world have spoken about the nuclear threat. As Russia holds the most nuclear warheads worldwide, there is a discussion on whether Russia could use nuclear weapons in the war. In February 2023, Russia suspended its participation in the New START treaty, a nuclear arms reduction agreement with the United States. Furthermore, the Russian government accused Ukraine of planning to use a so-called "dirty bomb," an explosive device with radioactive material, a claim dismissed by the Ukrainian government. At the same time, the fighting around the nuclear plant Zaporizhzhia has increased the risk of a nuclear accident. Zaporizhzhia is Ukraine's nuclear plant with the highest capacity.
Number of online news articles mentioning selected keyword combinations related to nuclear weapons together with Russia or Ukraine worldwide from January 2022 to February 2024
(in 1,000s)
Characteristic
Russia / Ukraine + nuclear + war
Russia / Ukraine + nuclear + weapons
Russia / Ukraine + nuclear + threat
Russia / Ukraine + nuclear + conflict
Russia / Ukraine + nuclear + missile
Russia / Ukraine + nuclear + bomb
Russia / Ukraine + nuclear + submarine
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The mentions refer to the GDELT database which translates articles in 65 languages into English. The figures represent the total number of all articles GDELT monitored during that time interval which include the search term at least once.
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Statista. (March 21, 2024). Number of online news articles mentioning selected keyword combinations related to nuclear weapons together with Russia or Ukraine worldwide from January 2022 to February 2024 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1344633/ukraine-war-nuclear-weapon-mentions-in-online-press/
Statista. "Number of online news articles mentioning selected keyword combinations related to nuclear weapons together with Russia or Ukraine worldwide from January 2022 to February 2024 (in 1,000s)." Chart. March 21, 2024. Statista. Accessed August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1344633/ukraine-war-nuclear-weapon-mentions-in-online-press/
Statista. (2024). Number of online news articles mentioning selected keyword combinations related to nuclear weapons together with Russia or Ukraine worldwide from January 2022 to February 2024 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1344633/ukraine-war-nuclear-weapon-mentions-in-online-press/
Statista. "Number of Online News Articles Mentioning Selected Keyword Combinations Related to Nuclear Weapons Together with Russia or Ukraine Worldwide from January 2022 to February 2024 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 21 Mar 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1344633/ukraine-war-nuclear-weapon-mentions-in-online-press/
Statista, Number of online news articles mentioning selected keyword combinations related to nuclear weapons together with Russia or Ukraine worldwide from January 2022 to February 2024 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1344633/ukraine-war-nuclear-weapon-mentions-in-online-press/ (last visited August 24, 2024)
Number of online news articles mentioning selected keyword combinations related to nuclear weapons together with Russia or Ukraine worldwide from January 2022 to February 2024 (in 1,000s) [Graph], Statista, March 21, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1344633/ukraine-war-nuclear-weapon-mentions-in-online-press/