Is it possible for french nukes to take out 10 russian cities?
In theory, it is possible for French nuclear weapons to strike and destroy 10 Russian cities—but with major caveats:
France's Nuclear Capabilities (As of 2025)
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Estimated Warheads:~290 nuclear warheads
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Delivery Systems:
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Submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs):M51 missiles with MIRVs (Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicles)
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Air-launched missiles:Rafale fighter jets equipped with ASMP-A nuclear cruise missiles
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Technically, yes:
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SLBMs could target several cities simultaneously with MIRVs (each missile can strike multiple targets).
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ASMP-A cruise missiles have enough range to reach western Russia, depending on launch location.
Strategically, however:
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Each city would require one or more warheads for destruction, depending on size and desired effect.
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France could allocate ~10–20 warheads in a first strike, assuming a limited engagement (not total war).
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Cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg are viable targets—but more distant ones (e.g. Vladivostok) would be harder to reach.
The Fallout (Literally and Politically)
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Massive civilian casualties
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Global condemnation
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Immediate Russian retaliation—Russia has over 5,000 nuclear warheads
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Likely escalation to global thermonuclear war(i.e., WWIII)
Bottom Line
France has the firepower and reach to strike 10 Russian cities. But doing so would likely invite mutual annihilation. It's a military possibility, but a strategic impossibility in any sane geopolitical scenario.