How many nuclear tests did the Soviet Union conduct between 1949 and 1990?
The Soviet Union conducted 715 nuclear tests between 1949 and 1990. This testing created a vast legacy of radioactive contamination and strategic capability.
Questions about Russia and weapons of mass destruction
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Russia suspend its participation in the New START treaty with the United States?
Russia suspended its participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty on the 21st of February 2023. President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would not allow US and NATO inspections of its nuclear facilities following this suspension.
What is the current number of nuclear warheads held by Russia?
Russia currently possesses approximately 5,459 nuclear warheads. The Federation of American Scientists estimates that about 1,700 active deployed strategic nuclear warheads remain within the country.
Which dates mark the ratification of the Biological Weapons Convention by the Soviet Union?
The Soviet Union signed the Biological Weapons Convention on the 10th of April 1972 and ratified it on the 26th of March 1975. The program operated from the 1920s until at least September 1992 despite these international obligations.
On what date did the OPCW announce the complete destruction of Russia's declared chemical weapons stockpile?
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons announced the complete destruction of the declared stockpile on the 27th of September 2017. Russia had declared an arsenal of 39,967 tons of chemical weapons in 1997 before beginning destruction efforts.