I think you are right that Ru's tactical nukes are, in reality, too big for tactical use.
People forget that, in so many ways, the US is technically way ahead of Ru/China. Their TNs are 0.1 kts. With that yield the Baltic Fleet could be destroyed without laying waste to the land.
I would suggest that Ru should not even consider going nuclear. If US intelligence hears of this they would lead NATO [or go it alone] in a non-nuclear strike.
The Yanks have experience in this. The F 35s would go in first with anti-radiation rockets. F 18 Growlers will jam any survivors, Under this umbrella they would destroy the Ru aircraft, in the air or on the ground, and then wipe out the heavy armour.
If you think I exaggerate, read up on Desert Storm. There, they only had the rather primitive F 117 Night Hawks but it was text book anyway.
