MOSCOW: Russia has announced its readiness to conduct a nuclear test in the Arctic “at any moment,” according to a report by The Daily Mail. Rear Admiral Andrei Sinitsyn, director of the Soviet test site, confirmed that the facility is fully prepared and could resume testing immediately upon orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sinitsyn told the state-owned Rossiyskaya Gazeta that both the laboratory and testing facilities are operational, and the personnel are on standby. He noted that “foreign intelligence” has been monitoring the site, suggesting international concern over potential nuclear tests.
The Central Test Site of the Russian Federation, which has been inactive for nuclear testing since October 1990, could be utilized for “non-nuclear explosive experiments” in the interests of state security, according to Sinitsyn.
He said that the site is equipped with the necessary staff, weapons, and equipment to carry out tests if directed by Putin. The focus, he stated, is on maintaining the site’s readiness to deter potential threats.
Recently, MP Andrei Kolesnik from the ruling United Russia party urged Putin to authorize a nuclear test as a warning to Western countries. Kolesnik argued that lifting the current moratorium on nuclear tests might prompt global reconsideration of the current geopolitical situation.
Sinitsyn reassured that the testing ground remains prepared and equipped for any required activities, underscoring the importance of deterrence through demonstrated readiness.
