News
Publish date: September 28, 1998
Written by: Igor Kudrik
News
American spy satellites detected increased activity at the Novaya Zemlya test site last week, suggesting that Russia is preparing a nuclear bomb test. "Russia does not perform nuclear testing and does not make preparations to carry them out in the future," said deputy nuclear minister Victor Mikhailov in an interview with ITAR-TASS on Friday, September 25.
"Hydrodynamic experiments are another matter. This is a domestic issue, both Russia and the U.S. perform them," added Mikhailov.
The hydrodynamic experiments (or subcritical experiments) contain the ingredients of a nuclear bomb, but fizzle out without any thermonuclear blast and are not accompanied by radioactive emissions. The tests are used for both improving old warheads and for developing new nuclear devices. Last year, the U.S. conducted three subcritical tests at the Nevada test site, and another last Saturday. These experiments do not violate the Test Ban Treaty, signed both by Russia and the U.S.
According to Minatom’s press service chief, Yuri Bespalko, Russia has conducted subcritical tests at Novaya Zemlya since 1995. This year one such test is scheduled for late autumn. There are plans for the next year as well, say Minatom officials. No dates were provided.
Throughout the past year, our mission at the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center has focused on two key, but intertwined issues—nuclear and radiation safety as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drags on, and the worldwide influence of Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, which itself is actively involved in the war and has participated in the occupation of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant.
At the beginning of the year, reports in the German and Russian press suggested an approximate 70% increase in uranium imports from Russia to Germany in 2024. But does this reflect broader European trends? It does not. Overall, imports of uranium and nuclear fuel from Russia to Western countries actually dropped sharply in 2024. Unlike the situation in Germany, this is already an established trend.
A Lingen, Germany plant could begin producing nuclear fuel in cooperation with a subsidiary of Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear corporation, which is directly involved in the war in Ukraine and occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.