Russia has expanded the number of operational nuclear warheads deployed on delivery systems for a fourth consecutive year, bringing its deployed total to the highest level since 2017, according to the annual World Nuclear Forces report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). As of January 2026, Russia possessed an estimated total inventory of 5,420 nuclear warheads. Of that total, 2,604 warheads were held in central storage, 1,020 were retired and awaiting dismantlement, and 1,796 were operationally deployed on ballistic missiles and strategic bombers.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. According to SIPRI data, Russia’s deployed arsenal has grown incrementally since 2022, rising from 1,588 operational warheads in 2022 to 1,674 in 2023, 1,710 in 2024, 1,718 in 2025, and 1,796 in early 2026. The current deployed figure represents an approximate 14% increase compared to 2020 levels. By comparison, the US maintained an estimated 1,770 deployed warheads over the same timeframe out of an overall stockpile comparable with that of Russia. Among other declared nuclear-weapon states, France maintained 280 deployed warheads, while the United Kingdom deployed 120. China increased its deployed warheads from 24 to 34 out of an estimated total inventory of 620 warheads. India also initiated operational sea-based nuclear deployments aboard ballistic missile submarines, maintaining approximately 12 deployed warheads in 2025 from a total arsenal estimated at 190 weapons.