International security

Russia is expanding its nuclear arsenal to 8,000 warheads by 2026 and modernising its underground bunkers in preparation for war, Pentagon officials reveal

Russia is looking to expand its nuclear forces to comprise a total of 8,000 warheads by 2026, a U.S. news website reports.

President Vladimir Putin is 'aggressively building up' Russia's nuclear arsenal in the coming years, and is also building underground bunkers, according to unnamed Pentagon officials.

The current New START treaty between the U.S. and Russia limits the number of nuclear warheads to 1,550 each. 

Quoting Pentagon officials, alternative news website Washington Free Beacon says Russia is 'fortifying underground facilities for command and control during a nuclear conflict'. 

Increasing the number of nuclear warheads to 8,000 would seriously violate the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as New START, signed by the U.S. and Russia.