Nuclear Weapons in Russia: Safety, Security, and Control Issues (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Jan. 21, 2004 |
| Report Number |
RL32202 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Amy F. Woolf, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
When the Soviet Union collapsed in late 1991, it reportedly possessed more than 27,000 nuclear
weapons, and these weapons were deployed on the territories of several of the former Soviet
republics. All of the nuclear warheads have now been moved to Russia, but Russia still has around
5,500 strategic nuclear weapons and perhaps as many as 12,000 warheads for nonstrategic nuclear
weapons.
Many analysts in the United States and Russia have expressed concerns about the safety,
security, and control over these weapons. Some of these concerns focus on Russia's nuclear
command and control structure. Financial constraints have slowed the modernization and
replacement of many aging satellites and communications links, raising the possibility that Russia
might not be able to identify a potential attack or communicate with troops in the field if an attack
were underway. Some fear that the misinterpretation of an ambiguous event might lead to the
launch of nuclear weapons. Some also expressed concern that the year 2000 computer bug could
affect Russia's command and control system, but it did not.
Some concerns are also focused on the safety and security of nuclear warheads in storage
facilities in Russia. Press reports and statements by Russian officials about possible missing
warheads have added to these concerns. However, General Eugene Habiger, former
Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Strategic Command, stated that he had no major concerns about
security at Russian nuclear storage facilities after he visited several storage sites in Oct. 1997 and
June 1998.
The United States and Russia are cooperating in many fora to improve the safety, security, and
control over Russia's nuclear weapons and materials. Through the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat
Reduction (CTR) Program, the U.S. Department of Defense has provided assistance worth nearly
$2 billion to help Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus safely transport and store weapons and
eliminate launchers under the START Treaties. The Department of Energy's Materials Protection,
Control and Accounting Program is helping Russia and other former Soviet republics secure nuclear
materials at research and other facilities in the former Soviet Union. The nations have also held
bilateral meetings to identify ways in which they might cooperate to improve security and resolve
concerns.
This report will not be updated. For current information on U.S. and Russian efforts to address
concerns about the safety and security of Russian nuclear weapons and materials see CRS Report RL31957 , Nonproliferation and Threat Reduction Assistance: U.S. Programs in the Former Soviet
Union.
