“They haven’t conducted a nuclear test in almost 30 years...Their Cold War technicians have long since moved to countries that can pay them better than a shabby apartment and access to the GUM department store.”
So that’s enough for you to believe that their nukes won’t work, assuming the part about their techs even means anything.
Sorry, but that’s NOT enough for most Americans, and not enough for me, since I have kids.
They tried test shots of their new SS-27’s back in the 90’s.
They couldn’t get them to work.
They got some anyway
They got off some test shots of the SS-29 but still have not acquired any.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-36_(missile)
They still have some ancient liquid fueled SS-9’s, more dangerous to their crews than anyone else after all this time and poor maintenance.