Psychological and military-political preparation of military personnel for combat activity in case of using nuclear weapon

Introduction. In the early 21st century the world leading military powers again included in their military doctrines provisions on the possibility of waging a large-scale war, including use of nuclear weapons. The use of nuclear weapons will create a very specific combat and psychological situation on the battlefield. Psychological pressure on military personnel in a nuclear war will immensely increase. In this regard, the purpose of the article is to clarify the psychological phenomenology generated by the damaging factors of nuclear weapons, develop scientific recommendations on the military-political and psychological preparation of military personnel for combat activities in a nuclear war, and substantiate the main areas of psychological and military-political work with military personnel in conditions of using nuclear weapon. Materials and Methods. The goal was achieved via methods of studying documents, scientific literature, testimonies of people who survived extreme events, similar in effect to the human psyche to the damaging factors of nuclear weapons, the comparative legal method and the method of analogies. Results and Discussions. It is proved essential to consider the psychological factors of performing combat missions in conditions of using nuclear weapons. The psychological influence of the damaging factors of nuclear weapons on the combat activities of military personnel is analyzed. The researchers substantiate the tasks of military-political and psychological training of military personnel. Conclusions. Psychological factors connected with the use of nuclear weapons are capable of causing anxiety, fear, panic, radiation neurosis and other psychological problems in psychologically untrained military personnel and the population in the combat area, which significantly reduce the effectiveness of military operations. To ensure the successful fulfillment of combat missions in conditions of using nuclear weapons, special psychological and military-political training is necessary, aimed at the formation of military personnel knowledge of the physical principles of nuclear weapons, the limitations of its damaging factors, ways to avoid, minimize their negative effects and overcome the negative psychological consequences of their impact.