In October 2022 the course of the Russia's war in Ukraine shifted. Intelligence from the USA and UK indicated that Russia could turn to a nuclear bomb to get on top of the war. This is the story of those six days in October, and just how close Putin really came to pressing the nuclear button.

Reporter: Giles Whittell

Producer: Ada Barume

Additional reporting: Nina Kuryata

Sound design: Dominic Delargy

Artwork: Lola Williams

Editor: Jasper Corbett

Slow Newscast Executive Producer: Matt Russell

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Rogue Russia: Nuclear poker

The Slow Newscast