"Their simulation assessed that in the event of a first strike, 98 percent of their nuclear silos and aircraft would be destroyed before they could mount a counter attack."

And 0% of their submarine nuclear forces. Kiss every major city good-bye.

Also I suspect the study did not include launch on warning. This is part of the "nuclear supremacy" discourse that had its day over ten years ago. May it rest in peace.

Reagan and Gorbachev said it, and now Xi has had Putin say it with him, "A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought." Actually the Russia word is closer to "launched" which underscores the inadvisability of starting nuclear warfare. The G20 have said, "The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible." Let's put it even more bluntly, "Starting nuclear war is impermissible!"