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News.com.au
2 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘After us, silence': Two million documents detailing Russia's nuclear expansion leaked
Buried beneath the plains of southern Russia in the shadow of the Ural Mountains, a vast network of fortified missile silos, tunnels and command centres has undergone a dramatic transformation. Europe has been gripped by the sudden emergence of over two million leaked documents revealing the scale and ambition of Moscow's nuclear infrastructure overhaul. Without mutual inspections in place since 2020, understanding Russia's true capabilities has been difficult, meaning leaks are viewed as solid gold for Western governments. The documents, published by the Danish independent outlet Danwatch, providea chilling glimpse into President Vladimir Putin's long-game strategy to reinforce Russia's famous deterrence doctrine. At the centre of it is Yasny — a remote military town that houses elements of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces. Since 2019, the complex has been fitted with Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles, an advanced nuclear delivery system touted by Putin himself in 2018. He bragged that they are capable of evading even the most complex of Western defences. 'Nobody wanted to listen to us — so listen now,' the Russian leader warned at the time. That speech signalled a renewed arms race, one shaped not by Cold War parity but by 21st-century asymmetry. What once appeared on satellite imagery as a modest array of fenced-off silos has morphed into a heavily fortified expanse. Leaked procurement records show an influx of cement, steel, IT systems and surveillance equipment, used to build control centres, barracks, and miles of subterranean tunnels. The upgraded perimeter includes three-deep electric fences, radiation and seismic sensors, blast-proof infrastructure, and automated defence systems including remote-controlled weapons. Life inside the complex is reportedly regimented and insular. Recruits reportedly pass time playing chess and lifting weights, while signs posted throughout the base warn, 'Stop! Turn around! Forbidden zone!' Putin has previously stated that Russia would never be the first to use nuclear weapons, but that if attacked, retaliation would be absolute. 'Any aggressor should know that retaliation is inevitable and they will be annihilated,' he declared. In a separate speech in 2024, Putin warned his nuclear forces were 'always' on alert. 'Russia will do everything to prevent a global clash, but at the same time we will not allow anyone to threaten us. Our strategic forces are always on alert,' Putin told thousands of soldiers gathered for their annual Victory Day in 2024. 'Russia is now going through a difficult, crucial period. The fate of the Motherland, its future depends on each of us,' he said. 'After us, silence' Analysts believe that large-scale nuclear confrontation remains unlikely due to the apocalyptic consequences for all sides. Nonetheless, the modernisation is real and so is the message. The motto of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces tells you quite a bit on its own: 'After us, silence.' Military analysts argue that Russia's recent posture, including regular nuclear threats during the war in Ukraine, reflects a shift in doctrine. There is a growing perception that Moscow's threshold for nuclear deployment may have lowered. 'It's important that we have a correct understanding of the situation,' said Tom Roseth, a defence analyst who spoke to Der Spiege l. 'Many still don't fully recognise the fundamental shift in security policy. Russia has modernised its arsenal — and they've threatened to use it.' The revelations come as Western nations steadily lift restrictions on Ukrainian use of long-range weaponry against targets inside Russia. Germany, France, the UK and the US have all recently removed limitations, enabling Kyiv to strike military installations across the border — a development with clear strategic implications. Despite mounting warnings from think tanks and EU-aligned leaders, a wider Russian attack on NATO remains unlikely. Roseth added: 'They will certainly evaluate whether they can reduce the vulnerabilities that have been revealed. That could mean rerouting cables or reinforcing key infrastructure — but such changes come at a high cost.' '12,500 nukes' Roughly 12,500 nuclear weapons exist today, held by nine nations: the US, Russia, China, India, France, the UK, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea. The arms race, once tempered post-Cold War, is again accelerating. Leaders claim deterrence, but the threat of miscalculation — like the 1983 false alarm that nearly triggered Armageddon — looms large. Russian pundits regularly invoke nuclear threats as Vladimir Putin continues his war in Ukraine. North Korea remains defiant, expanding its arsenal and testing missiles dangerously close to Japan. Estimates of its nuclear cache range from 50 to 130. In her book, Nuclear War: A Scenario, analyst Annie Jacobsen outlines how a launch would unfold — with US satellites detecting ignition in under a second, and the President given mere minutes to respond. ' We don't wait to absorb a nuclear blow,' she says. 'We launch.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Strategic microelectronics plant on fire in Russia's St Petersburg
A fire broke out at the Avangard plant in the Russian city of St Petersburg on the night of 28-29 May. The plant specialises in microelectronics production and is classified as a company of strategic importance in Russia. Source: Russian Telegram channels citing eyewitnesses; local emergency services Details: Reports indicated the fire had started at around 01:00 in the areas of the plant where microchips were manufactured and assembled. According to Russian Telegram channel SHOT, a large column of thick black smoke rose above the site of the fire. The flames covered an area of about 100 sq m. "Firefighters are extinguishing a fire in a production building at 72 Kondratyevsky Prospect. There is a fire covering an area of 100 square metres on the fourth floor of the six-storey building," the Ministry of Emergency Situations in Saint Petersburg stated. The Piterskaya Khronika and SHOT Telegram channels, citing eyewitnesses, also reported loud explosions that occurred before the fire. However, there have been no official reports of a drone attack. For reference: The Avangard plant, where the fire occurred, is a large research and production facility. It manufactures radio electronics, microchip products, instruments and basic structures for radio-electronic equipment. The plant is designated as a Federal Scientific and Production Centre and is included in the list of Russia's strategic and systemically important businesses. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Electronics plant in St. Petersburg on fire following explosions, local officials report
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. An Avangard electronics plant reportedly caught fire in the Russian city of St. Petersburg following a series of explosions, local Telegram channels and officials reported overnight on May 29. In purported videos posted on social media, a large fire was seen rising from the factory's roof in the Kalininsky district of the city. Preliminary reports indicate that the fire began around 1 a.m. local time. The fire is reportedly burning on the 5th floor of a 6-story building, the St. Petersburg Emergency Services Ministry said, adding that the fire covers approximately 100-square-meters. The plant reportedly specializes in the production of microelectronics and microcircuits. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. Ukraine's military has not yet commented on the fire, and there were no official reports of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting the region ahead of the fire. The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify reports made by Russian officials. Kyiv has previously target St. Petersburg through drone attacks on the region. As Russia continues to reject calls for a ceasefire and the war drags on, Ukraine has intensified drone attacks on Russian territory. In particular, drone attacks in Russia have forced airport closures for several nights in a row. A source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent on May 28 that Ukrainian long-range drones hit the Raduga enterprise in the town of Dubna in Moscow Oblast, which produces cruise missiles. Read also: Ukrainian drones hit Russian cruise missile factory, SBU source says, in one of largest reported strikes of full-scale war We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Putin's nuke secrets EXPOSED: Blueprints for Russian bases where warheads are primed to lay waste to Europe are leaked
MAD Vladimir Putin's top secret nuclear sites have been exposed, where city-flattening warheads that can reach European capitals within minutes are launched. The Russian dictator made a chilling announcement in 2018 on the development of a series of new nuclear weapon systems that could put Moscow ahead in the arms race against the West - warning "nobody wanted to listen to us - so listen now". 5 5 5 Now a terrifying, gargantuan upgrade of the military infrastructure at Russia's most protected facilities has been exposed. Shielded strategically behind the southernmost tip of the Russian Ural Mountains sits one of the globe's most secured military complexes. And surrounding the tiny Russian town of Yasny - just one of the 11 existing nuclear site locations - mad Vlad can launch land-based, long-range missiles carrying some of the biggest nuclear weapons ever. Buried missile silos across the bare landscape are ready at any given moment to strike European countries in under just 10 minutes - leaving cities completely decimated. Images from a decade ago show just one silo lid and a few buildings fenced off. But now, bases have been expanded, with hundreds of new barracks, watchtowers, control centres and storage buildings created and miles-long underground tunnels excavated. Since 2019, the Yasny bases have been equipped with Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle which is Russia's new nuclear delivery systems that plays up to Putin's desire to have Moscow at the front of the arms race. One shocking video allegedly shows missiles equipped with the glide vehicle launching from a Yasny missile site for flight tests in 2018. There was previously only access to aerial images of the sites. Britain will be wiped off the map with nukes unless it stops helping Ukraine, warns Putin's guru 'Professor Doomsday' But now, Danwatch and German Der Spiegel has accessed over two million leaked documents relating to Russian military procurement, revealing entire massive bases have been rebuilt. The discovery of the new systems marks a "whole new chapter" on the development of nuclear powers' arsenals, with blueprints left unseen since the 1970s, nuclear information expert Hans M. Kristensen said. He added that as there hasn't been any on-site inspection of nuclear sites between the US and Russia since April 2020, the exposed documents are crucial in understanding what Russia's intentions are with their program. NUKE MODERNISATION Documents have revealed that deliveries of gargantuan quantities of steel, sand, cement, bricks and insulation have been made over the years. Alongside this, other chilling items like IT systems, electrical installations and water, heating and ventilation routing were deployed at the sites. These materials were presumably put towards Russia's new security systems. The bases boast three layers of electric fences along its outer perimeter, equipped with sensors for seismic and radioactivity. Unbreakable, explosion-proof doors and windows have also been developed alongside concrete buildings for optimum protection. And to ward off any potential intruders, alarm systems with magnetic contacts are in place with infrared sensors. Extensive electronic surveillance have also been installed, with remote-controlled machine guns and automatic grenade launchers. A modern air defense is also in place. Meanwhile on the inside, documents describe in heavy detail where soldiers reside and what facilities they use to ensure ultimate protection of the top-secret base. Soldiers play peak cognitive performance games like checkers and chess, and work out using strengthening equipment like weights and running machines. Signs on the wall of the base also read "Stop! Turn around! Forbidden zone!" or "The Military Oath". The chilling signals are written to ward off those who wander near the control rooms, as well as to signpost which buildings connect to one another through underground tunnels. 5 5 RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC MISSILE FORCES Documents have exposed how Russia's Strategic Missile Forces are able to launch heft nuclear bombs from buried silos or vehicles. Air and sea-based nuclear weapons are also able to get launched from special bomber aircraft or submarines. But the extreme nuclear weaponry has even been dubbed by the Forces as being a 'last resort'. There are close to a whopping 900 operational nuclear warheads at the missile bases, with the intercontinental missiles able to launch them and decimate anywhere they reach. Although the weapons can be used, experts say that Russia understand that they would not be used lightly, and only in a global war scenario. But the official motto of the Forces serves as a harrowing warning to the West: "After us - silence." Mad Vlad has said previously that Russia wouldn't be the first to use nuclear weapons and that the country is merely preparing in case of attack. He explained: "Yes, it looks like we are sitting on our hands and waiting until someone uses nuclear weapons against us. "Well, yes, this is what it is. But then any aggressor should know that retaliation is inevitable and they will be annihilated." PROCEDURES EXPOSED Russia's modernisation of its nuclear capabilities is something that Western intelligence agencies have consistently followed, sources told Danwatch and Der Spiegel. As Putin's puppets continue to threatened nuclear Armageddon on the West, European countries have increased defence spending, with one expert arguing that it's within public interest to know what is occurring at Russian nuclear bases. Tom Roseth told the Danish and German news sites: "It's important that we have a correct understanding of the situation, because there are still many who don't fully recognise the situation Europe is in now, which is a fundamental shift in security policy. "Therefore it's important to show that Russia has modernized its nuclear arsenal. "They have, after all, threatened with nuclear weapons regularly during the Ukraine war. "It has public relevance that Russia is capable – and it's even more important because they have adjusted their nuclear doctrine and now have a lower threshold for the use of nuclear weapons." Despite the two bases in Yasny now on active combat alert, documents being leaked could now mean Russian authorities are forced to investigate whether changes must be made, Tom added. He explained: "They will certainly evaluate whether they can reduce the vulnerabilities that has been revealed. That could for example be new laying new cable routes, or reinforcing certain places with concrete. The problem is that it costs a lot of money to change the infrastructure at these facilities."
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Putin's nuke secrets EXPOSED: Blueprints for Russian bases where warheads are primed to lay waste to Europe are leaked
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MAD Vladimir Putin's top secret nuclear sites have been exposed, where city-flattening warheads that can reach European capitals within minutes are launched. The Russian dictator made a chilling announcement in 2018 on the development of a series of new nuclear weapon systems that could put Moscow ahead in the arms race against the West - warning "nobody wanted to listen to us - so listen now". 5 Vladimir Putin's secret nuke sites have been exposed Credit: Reuters 5 The new and improved military facilities are a chilling show of force from Moscow Credit: AP 5 Now a terrifying, gargantuan upgrade of the military infrastructure at Russia's most protected facilities has been exposed. Shielded strategically behind the southernmost tip of the Russian Ural Mountains sits one of the globe's most secured military complexes. And surrounding the tiny Russian town of Yasny - just one of the 11 existing nuclear site locations - mad Vlad can launch land-based, long-range missiles carrying some of the biggest nuclear weapons ever. Buried missile silos across the bare landscape are ready at any given moment to strike European countries in under just 10 minutes - leaving cities completely decimated. Images from a decade ago show just one silo lid and a few buildings fenced off. But now, bases have been expanded, with hundreds of new barracks, watchtowers, control centres and storage buildings created and miles-long underground tunnels excavated. Since 2019, the Yasny bases have been equipped with Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle which is Russia's new nuclear delivery systems that plays up to Putin's desire to have Moscow at the front of the arms race. One shocking video allegedly shows missiles equipped with the glide vehicle launching from a Yasny missile site for flight tests in 2018. There was previously only access to aerial images of the sites. Britain will be wiped off the map with nukes unless it stops helping Ukraine, warns Putin's guru 'Professor Doomsday' But now, Danwatch and German Der Spiegel has accessed over two million leaked documents relating to Russian military procurement, revealing entire massive bases have been rebuilt. The discovery of the new systems marks a "whole new chapter" on the development of nuclear powers' arsenals, with blueprints left unseen since the 1970s, nuclear information expert Hans M. Kristensen said. He added that as there hasn't been any on-site inspection of nuclear sites between the US and Russia since April 2020, the exposed documents are crucial in understanding what Russia's intentions are with their program. NUKE MODERNISATION Documents have revealed that deliveries of gargantuan quantities of steel, sand, cement, bricks and insulation have been made over the years. Alongside this, other chilling items like IT systems, electrical installations and water, heating and ventilation routing were deployed at the sites. These materials were presumably put towards Russia's new security systems. The bases boast three layers of electric fences along its outer perimeter, equipped with sensors for seismic and radioactivity. Unbreakable, explosion-proof doors and windows have also been developed alongside concrete buildings for optimum protection. And to ward off any potential intruders, alarm systems with magnetic contacts are in place with infrared sensors. Extensive electronic surveillance have also been installed, with remote-controlled machine guns and automatic grenade launchers. A modern air defense is also in place. Meanwhile on the inside, documents describe in heavy detail where soldiers reside and what facilities they use to ensure ultimate protection of the top-secret base. Soldiers play peak cognitive performance games like checkers and chess, and work out using strengthening equipment like weights and running machines. Signs on the wall of the base also read "Stop! Turn around! Forbidden zone!" or "The Military Oath". The chilling signals are written to ward off those who wander near the control rooms, as well as to signpost which buildings connect to one another through underground tunnels. 5 Clear satellite images reveal the ammunition depot of Toropets Credit: Twitter/@KOvsianyi 5 What is believed to be a deployment site for a Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile, including 5 nuclear warhead storage bunkers (right) and launch positions (lower left), in Vologda, Russia Credit: Reuters RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC MISSILE FORCES Documents have exposed how Russia's Strategic Missile Forces are able to launch heft nuclear bombs from buried silos or vehicles. Air and sea-based nuclear weapons are also able to get launched from special bomber aircraft or submarines. But the extreme nuclear weaponry has even been dubbed by the Forces as being a 'last resort'. There are close to a whopping 900 operational nuclear warheads at the missile bases, with the intercontinental missiles able to launch them and decimate anywhere they reach. Although the weapons can be used, experts say that Russia understand that they would not be used lightly, and only in a global war scenario. But the official motto of the Forces serves as a harrowing warning to the West: "After us - silence." Mad Vlad has said previously that Russia wouldn't be the first to use nuclear weapons and that the country is merely preparing in case of attack. He explained: "Yes, it looks like we are sitting on our hands and waiting until someone uses nuclear weapons against us. "Well, yes, this is what it is. But then any aggressor should know that retaliation is inevitable and they will be annihilated." PROCEDURES EXPOSED Russia's modernisation of its nuclear capabilities is something that Western intelligence agencies have consistently followed, sources told Danwatch and Der Spiegel. As Putin's puppets continue to threatened nuclear Armageddon on the West, European countries have increased defence spending, with one expert arguing that it's within public interest to know what is occurring at Russian nuclear bases. Tom Roseth told the Danish and German news sites: "It's important that we have a correct understanding of the situation, because there are still many who don't fully recognise the situation Europe is in now, which is a fundamental shift in security policy. "Therefore it's important to show that Russia has modernized its nuclear arsenal. "They have, after all, threatened with nuclear weapons regularly during the Ukraine war. "It has public relevance that Russia is capable – and it's even more important because they have adjusted their nuclear doctrine and now have a lower threshold for the use of nuclear weapons." Despite the two bases in Yasny now on active combat alert, documents being leaked could now mean Russian authorities are forced to investigate whether changes must be made, Tom added. He explained: "They will certainly evaluate whether they can reduce the vulnerabilities that has been revealed. That could for example be new laying new cable routes, or reinforcing certain places with concrete. The problem is that it costs a lot of money to change the infrastructure at these facilities."
