Andrei Sinitsyn, who leads Russia’s Central Nuclear Test Site on Novaya Zemlya, has asserted readiness for a possible return to full-scale testing. He stated that the testing complex is prepared, the laboratory facilities are in place, the staff are trained, and tests could begin at a moment’s notice if an order arrives.
Russia signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996 and ratified it in 2000. The treaty has not entered into force due to incomplete ratifications by several states, yet Moscow emphasizes that it remains engaged in verification efforts and continues to strengthen monitoring capabilities. Earlier updates highlighted enhancements to seismic networks, including the certifying of a vibration-monitoring station in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk as part of broader verification work.
The Soviet Union conducted a total of 715 nuclear tests, forming a cornerstone of the country’s strategic deterrent. The last blasts at Semipalatinsk occurred in 1989, and the final tests at Novaya Zemlya were carried out in 1990, marking the end of a distinctive era in underground testing.
In September, discussions in the State Duma addressed the potential resumption of testing should Kyiv lift restrictions on deep strikes against Russia, reflecting ongoing debates about how a future testing decision would fit within regional security dynamics and international norms.
A former Rosatom president has warned that Kyiv’s actions could threaten regional peace, underscoring how perceptions of threat and deterrence influence national policy and strategic calculations.