A former Russian nuclear forces officer has provided rare insight into the secretive operations at a Russian nuclear weapons facility during the early days of the Ukraine invasion.
The officer, identified only as Anton for security reasons, revealed to BBC that the nuclear base was placed on full combat alert on the first day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
"Before that we only had exercises. But on the day the war started, the weapons were fully in place," Anton disclosed from an undisclosed location outside Russia. "We were ready to launch forces at sea and in the air and, in theory, carry out a nuclear attack."
As part of the base security unit, Anton commanded a rapid reaction force tasked with guarding nuclear weapons. His unit maintained a strict two-minute response time through continuous training exercises.
The former officer described an environment of intense surveillance and isolation at the facility. Personnel underwent regular lie detector tests and faced severe restrictions on communications. Even family visits required approval from the FSB Security Service three months in advance.
"It is a closed society, there are no foreigners there," Anton explained. "All we had was Russian state television. I didn't know what it all meant. I have automatically completed my tasks."
The nuclear alert status remained in effect for approximately two to three weeks following the invasion's start. This timeline aligns with Vladimir Putin's public announcement ordering nuclear deterrent forces into a "special mode of combat" three days after the invasion began.
Anton's unprecedented testimony offers a glimpse into Russia's nuclear preparedness during a period of heightened international tensions. While the BBC has verified his service documents, some specific details of his account cannot be independently confirmed.
The revelations come at a time of escalating military activity, with both Russia and Ukraine recently exchanging strikes on strategic targets using advanced missile systems.