Since it is impossible for God's Word to fail, any nuclear war will be limited. I am certain of that. All of what we have seen is predicted in Scripture as to the build up to Antichrist and Armageddon. After Communism collapsed in 1991, some concluded that because Russia's economy and military power drastically declined, it would be impossible to fulfill the prophecies of Ezekiel in our lifetime. Not only is this incorrect, but Russia is actively preparing for a military revival.
History often repeats itself.
When Hitler attacked Russia in 1941, her military machine was antiquated, and she had not recovered from Stalin's brutal purges of the 1930's. Yet Russia beat the greatest war machine of the last century.