Originally Posted by
dead_pan
Actually that graphic neatly highlights what is up for grabs for Russia in Ukraine in terms of arable land. Russia really is poorly provided for given its overall size.
I'm not sure a tactical nuke or two would have much impact on this; their effects would be very much localised (obviously depending on their yields, ground or air-burst etc). Also, I assume a good portion of this was previously contaminated by Chernobyl, with little long term consequence (one hopes..).
Around 7% of Russia is arable, the rest is great for gulags. Russia conventional forces are still considerable in numbers, but their leadership is the best weapon Ukraine has. I doubt that Ukraine is going to sit back during the cold season, they have fire in the bellies and have enough supporters with arctic competency to take the fight to the Russians. The Russians are still getting junk from home, taking what they can from the people they have come to "liberate". Ukraine really does have a nuclear option available, they know where ZNPP is, and where the fallout goes, so some Russian force doing something reckless in Ukraine would likely end poorly for Russia. Russia's own nuclear power plants are well entered upwind of their major population centres. Would think that any release of a special weapon in Ukraine would have surprising outcomes in Russia, and deservedly so. The Ukrainians have shown remarkable restraint so far, Putin sees that as weakness, that could be an error.
As far as being up for grabs, Russia was an importer of tech, steel, and food from Ukraine, and they go and attack them. D'oh. The Russians always have dirt to eat.
Kazakhstan is a major agriculture country, behind Russia but still impressive. Of course, Kazakhs seem to have had their fill of Putin. Belarus is also a major food producer, and their current sychophantic dear leader, the last dictator of Europe by his own description, has managed to get a popularity of 15% or lower. His slavish obsequiousness to Vlad is impressive, will be looking shaky when Vlad has an accident cleaning windows or when his car suffers from smoking.