Doctrine by Necessity

Analysing Russia’s Nuclear Strategy Modification in the Era of Hypersonic Weapons

Absztrakt

This study examines Russia’s 2024 nuclear doctrine modification in the context of its technological advancements and strategic challenges between 2020–2024. Drawing on the Nuclear Scepticism Theory and the Conventional Balance of Forces thesis, the analysis demonstrates that Russia’s doctrinal changes represent a deliberate lowering of the nuclear threshold driven primarily by conventional military considerations rather than technological developments. While Russia emphasises its hypersonic weapons capabilities, the article reveals that doctrinal shifts correlate more closely with conventional military challenges exposed during the Ukraine war than with advances in weapons systems. The findings contribute to our understanding of how states adjust their nuclear strategies in response to conventional military pressures despite possessing sophisticated military technologies.