Russia ready to conduct nuclear test 'at any time'

Russia's nuclear test site, located on the remote Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, is where the Soviet Union conducted more than 200 nuclear tests, including the world's most powerful nuclear bomb in 1961.

In an interview published on September 17 in Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Rear Admiral Andrei Sinitsyn, the head of the facility, said: "Everything, from the testing laboratory, testing facilities to personnel, is ready for the continuation of full-scale testing activities. If there is an order, we can start testing at any time."

"The most important thing for us is not to disrupt the implementation of the state's mission. If assigned to restore testing, the facility will complete that task within the prescribed time frame," he said.

A nuclear test model at the museum of the Semipalatinsk Test Site, one of the main nuclear testing sites of the former Soviet Union. Photo: Reuters

The interview was published days after Russian President Vladimir Putin said the West would directly declare war on Russia if it allowed Ukraine to attack Russian territory with Western-made long-range missiles.

Russia has not conducted a nuclear weapons test since 1990, a year before the Soviet Union collapsed, but some analysts say President Vladimir Putin could order a nuclear test to send a deterrent message to the West if he allows Ukraine to use long-range missiles to attack Russia.

Last November, Mr. Putin signed a law revoking Russia’s ratification of a global treaty banning nuclear weapons tests, putting Russia on par with the United States, which signed but has not ratified the treaty.

Mr Putin said in June that Russia could test nuclear weapons “if necessary”, but did not currently see a need to do so.

Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nga-tuyen-bo-san-sang-thu-hat-nhan-bat-cu-luc-nao-post312859.html