Devastating simulation shows what would happen if Russia carried out nuclear attack on New York City

A terrifying new simulation has revealed the devastating consequences of a potential Russian nuclear strike on New York City.

The simulation reveals the impact of a potential nuclear attack on New York City. Credit: Alexander Spatari / Getty

The simulation, shared by YouTuber Visualiser 3D, emphasizes the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons.

The clip begins with the narrator describing Russia's 800-kiloton Topol M missile as a "very powerful nuclear charge," and noting that New York City could be a prime target due to its status as the world's financial center, its symbolic importance, and its concentration of critical infrastructure.

According to the clip, if the bomb detonates in Times Square, a fireball with "temperatures comparable to the sun will expand to a radius of 0.6 miles".

The iconic Empire State Building would be instantly vaporized, residents inside would instantly be killed, and landmarks like Bryant Park, Hell's Kitchen, and the Theater District in Manhattan would "cease to exist in seconds".

The destruction would extend to a five-mile radius, affecting neighborhoods like Harlem, Williamsburg, Astoria, and Jersey City.

"Buildings would collapse and streets would be littered with deadly debris," the narrator warns. Given New York City's high population density, the death toll "could exceed 1 million, and more than 1,500,000 people would be injured".

The energy of the blast would also spread up to seven miles, causing third-degree burns and igniting anything flammable, including "fuel stations, vehicles, electrical grids, and more."

Areas like Flatbush, Elmhurst, Fort Lee, and Ridgefield Park would be "engulfed in fire", adding to the chaos. An additional "600,000 people could die in that radius from burns, radiation sickness, and falling debris, and another 1,100,000 would be injured."

Beyond seven miles and up to twelve miles away, the shockwave would shatter all glass, leading to casualties from "glass cuts and wave force" in areas as far as Yonkers, Elizabeth, and Hempstead.

The estimated fatalities from such an attack are "1,740,660" with "2,888,820" estimated injuries.

The simulation further details the devastating impact of fallout. If the explosion were to occur above ground, "the radioactive contamination would be significant, and the entire area from New York City to Boston, depending on the wind direction, would be exposed to heavy radiation contamination".

The Topol M missile, with Russia having about 72 in service (though this number is gradually being reduced in favor of newer systems like the Yars), can be launched from both stationary silos and highly maneuverable mobile launchers. It takes an average of 15 to 20 minutes for a missile to travel from Russia to New York.

The horrifying animation left many online users deeply disturbed. "We might get to see this scenario in the next 4 years. Hope not,” one user wrote, while another exclaimed: “Oh no!!! Not [Fort] Lee”?!?

Russia's Topol M missile is a very powerful nuclear charge. Credit: Rusm / Getty

This chilling video mirrors a previous simulation uploaded by the same YouTuber, which showed the potential impact of nuclear strikes on other global targets.

As previously reported, it's been alleged that Russia has marked out 32 potential targets across Europe for a nuclear attack, including key locations in northern Britain.

Visualiser 3D imagined a nightmare scenario in which Russia launched a nuclear assault on the UK, estimating that "about one million" people across the UK and Russia would be dead within two hours from an attack designed to obliterate military capabilities.

A subsequent "stage two" targeting major population centers could lead to an estimated 50 million lives lost, with the objective of preventing effective nuclear retaliation.

The final phase, "stage three," envisioned widespread nuclear fallout causing "radiation sickness" and mass death, plunging the world into chaos with overall fatalities potentially reaching up to half a billion.

While there is currently no concrete evidence of an imminent strike, British defense experts are not dismissing the risk.

Air Commodore Blythe Crawford, who recently retired as Commandant of the UK’s Air and Space Warfare Centre, revealed that after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the UK military ran its own simulation using a "synthetic environment," which he admitted was "not a pretty picture," adding: “It reinforced the fact that we really need to get after this," per The Sun.

In light of these growing threats, Britain is now taking unprecedented steps to bolster its nuclear deterrence. For the first time since the Cold War, the UK is considering arming jets with nuclear weapons.

As part of a major strategic defense review, Defence Secretary John Healey and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin are in talks with US officials to acquire aircraft capable of deploying tactical nuclear gravity bombs, such as American-built F-35A Lightning stealth jets. This would complement the UK’s current sea-based deterrent, enabling launches from both air and sea.

“The world is definitely becoming more dangerous. Nuclear risks are rising,” Healey said. “For the first time since the Cold War, we face seriously increasing risks of state-on-state conflict.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared it’s time to "transform how we defend these islands," adding: “We will meet this moment head on - by mounting the kind of response not seen before in most of our lifetimes."

He continued, "We will restore Britain’s war-fighting readiness as the central purpose of our Armed Forces. We are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces... So we must be ready to fight and win. After all, the best way to prevent conflict is by preparing for it.”

Featured image credit: Istvan Kadar Photography / Getty