Russia may be testing nuclear weapons again in the Arctic

The Russian army may be preparing new tests of nuclear weapons in the Arctic – or even has already conducted them. This is reported by The New York Times based on data obtained from satellite images. According to the newspaper’s assumption, we are talking about the Burevestnik intercontinental ballistic missile with a nuclear power plant.

Satellite images of the Novaya Zemlya training ground from September 20 show that numerous military equipment, including a tractor, the size of which corresponds to the size of the “Petrel”, have arrived there. At the same time, the protective coating was removed. For the second time, the same activity was recorded from satellites on September 28.

On August 31, Russia issued a recommendation to aircraft not to fly in the test area, declaring it temporarily dangerous. Later, the recommendation was extended several more times, at the moment it is valid until October 6. The same order was issued during the previous tests of the “Petrel” in 2019.

In addition, the Norwegian environmental organization Bellona stated that it identified on satellite images at the Rogachevo military airbase, approximately 150 kilometers from the test site, two planes belonging to Rosatom, which are used for monitoring nuclear tests.

• “Burevestnyk” is an intercontinental cruise missile. It is not only capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, but also has a nuclear power plant. The maximum flight range is up to 22.5 thousand kilometers.
• According to the independent monitoring group Nuclear Threat Initiative, between 2017 and 2019, Russia conducted 13 test launches of the Burevestnyk, all of which ended in failure, including human casualties. Experts warn that the presence of a nuclear “engine” in a missile in the event of an accident can lead to catastrophic consequences, even if the missile does not carry nuclear warheads.