Russia’s Nuclear Weapons Testing Ground Ready to Resume Tests After 34 years

Russia’s nuclear weapons testing ground on the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago is prepared for a potential resumption of nuclear tests, TASS reported quoting Colonel General Vladimir Verkhovtsev, former chief of the Russian Defense Ministry’s 12th Main Directorate which is responsible for the safe-keeping and maintenance of nuclear weapons.

Moscow has threatened to use nuclear weapons if its existence is threatened even as the U.S. has stepped up the testing of its nuclear weapons delivery systems such as the Minuteman missiles.

The Soviet Union conducted a total of 715 nuclear tests.The last one took place at the Novaya Zemlya facility on October 24, 1990.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS that Russia was considering a resumption of nuclear tests amid the United State’s policy of escalating tensions.

"The testing ground on the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago has been fully prepared for a resumption of nuclear tests for several years now. If the authorized officials make a decision on the matter, we are ready to do that in the near future," Verkhovtsev said.