Darya Dolzikova Profile picture
Senior Research Fellow for Proliferation and Nuclear Policy @RUSI_org. Nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, and the stuff in between. 🇬🇧🇨🇦
Mar 2 15 tweets 3 min read
🇫🇷 I underestimated the French.
 
Macron's nuclear speech includes a number of significant changes to French nuclear policy, some of which I had raised as a possibility in a recent paper on nuclear deterrence in Europe but judged to likely be too forward leaning. I was wrong.

1/ Notable changes:
- Increase in warhead numbers
- End to transparency on warhead numbers
- Extension of French nuclear exercises outside French territory and participation of allies
- Option for forward-deploying French strategic (see: nuclear-capable) air assets across Europe

2/
Jun 22, 2025 4 tweets 1 min read
My (very) preliminary reaction to the strikes on #Iran overnight. Top line: lots of questions, few details.

But, for me, fundamental hasn’t changed: military action alone can only roll back the programme by degrees not eliminate it fully.

🧵

rusi.org/in-the-news/da… If FFEP was indeed damaged (which remains unclear) that would be a significant setback for the programme. FFEP is a critical site, enriching to 60% using advanced centrifuges and 20% feed.

More unknowns: where existing HEU stocks may be, if there are any secret sites, etc
Jun 14, 2025 6 tweets 2 min read
Good piece but we need to nuance the discussion on radiological risk. As per my earlier post, enriched uranium is indeed radioactive, but the hazard is primarily chemical. Doesn’t mean it’s not bad but let’s be accurate.

nytimes.com/2025/06/13/us/… U-235 and U-238 have half-lives of ~700 million and ~4.5 billion years, respectively. Both undergo alpha (α) decay. Meaning, enriched uranium is only weakly radioactive and poses radiological risk primarily through inhalation/ingestion (α particles blocked by skin).
Apr 17, 2020 8 tweets 2 min read
Latest UN Panel of Experts report on #DPRK sanctions evasion has just been published: undocs.org/S/2020/151. Some interesting bits, a thread. (1/?) DPRK apparently continuing to deploy IT workers abroad, securing freelance contracts with unwitting clients in Canada, China, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and the US. (2/?)