Following Ukraine’s Operation ‘Spider’s Web’ that destroyed 40 Russian bombers, Moscow has vowed massive retaliation, with President Putin reportedly ordering the RS-26 Oreshnik hypersonic missiles to be prepared. These nuclear-capable MIRVed weapons can strike deep into Europe and NATO territories. With Germany, the UK, and France backing Ukraine militarily, tensions are at a boiling point. Russia has warned that NATO troop presence in Ukraine would trigger direct escalation. As nuclear threats loom, fears of a global World War III grow more realistic.