Russia warns of a resumption of nuclear testing and threatens “proportionate countermeasures”

Russia warns that it could adopt “appropriate and proportionate countermeasures” if the United States or any other state resumes nuclear testing. Mikhail Ulyanov, Moscow’s permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, called on nuclear-weapon states to respect their voluntary national moratoriums.

In an interview with Kommersant, the Russian diplomat said that respecting these moratoriums is essential, but acknowledged that it would be “too optimistic” to completely rule out the possibility of nuclear testing resuming worldwide.

Moscow’s position is in line with statements by President Vladimir Putin. Russia says it will not conduct nuclear tests as long as the United States refrains from such actions, but warns that it will respond if Washington or another country takes the first step.

In November 2023, Russia revoked its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted by the United Nations in 1996. Moscow ratified the document in 2000. The United States, China, Iran and Israel have signed it but not ratified it, while India, Pakistan, North Korea and Syria have not signed it.

The last Soviet nuclear test took place on October 24, 1990, at the Novaya Zemlya test site. The test involved eight warheads, with a total yield of 70 kilotons.