Russia Prepares Nuclear Testing Site on Novaya Zemlya for New Tests

Russia has prepared a nuclear testing site on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago for new nuclear tests. This development was revealed during an interview with Russian media featuring Admiral Andrey Sinitsin, the head of the nuclear weapons testing facility.

Sinitsin confirmed that the site is fully prepared to resume nuclear testing, which has not been conducted there since October 24, 1990. The last test involved the detonation of a 70-kiloton warhead at the A13-N Stolnya site, located at a depth of 600 meters. After this, the facility’s operations were partially suspended.

“The facility is ready to resume nuclear testing 'at any moment' if ordered from above,” Sinitsin stated.

It should be noted that Western countries are closely monitoring Russian activities at this site, as evidenced by last year’s satellite images showing construction activity.

“Our primary concern is to ensure the fulfillment of state tasks. If a decision is made to resume tests, we will carry them out within the specified timeframes,” Sinitsin added.

The Novaya Zemlya site, located in the Arctic Ocean, was used by the Soviet Union for over 200 nuclear tests, including the detonation of the world’s most powerful nuclear bomb in 1961.

The Russian media began reporting on the readiness for new nuclear tests following increased debates in the West about using Western weapons to strike Russian military targets in Ukraine.

Additionally, Russian leader Vladimir Putin warned the West that direct confrontation with Russia would ensue if Ukraine was permitted to launch strikes on Russian territory using Western-made long-range missiles, promising retaliatory measures.