Vladimir Putin appears nearer to ordering a nuclear test at the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, a former Soviet Arctic test site. Pro-war officials have inspected the site and commanders report full combat and operational readiness of laboratories, testing facilities and personnel to resume full-scale testing immediately if ordered. Western leaders are monitoring the situation closely. The current posture resembles conditions not seen since North Korea's last nuclear tests. Advanced verification technology can test warheads without detonations, yet a generational shift in nuclear complex leadership and rising technical arguments could increase pressure to return to live testing over the next decade or more.
We are closer to this situation than at any point since North Korea's last nuclear tests.
Once a new generation takes over in leadership positions within nuclear weapons complexes, these discussions will intensify. We have the technology and extremely expensive machines that allow us to verify the warheads without live tests. I fear that within the next 10 or 15 years it will be the technical arguments that dominate.
You know, there's a lot of fascinating stuff I could say about the test site - but sadly, I cannot. The only thing I can say is - we're fully combat ready.
The test site is ready to resume full-scale testing activities. It is fully ready. The laboratory and testing facilities are ready. The personnel are ready. If the order is given, we will begin testing at any moment.
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