In a rare and revealing interview with the BBC, a former officer who served at one of Russia’s top-secret nuclear weapons facilities provided chilling details about the country’s nuclear readiness during the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. His account highlights the tense atmosphere on Russia’s military bases and the extreme measures taken to prepare for a potential nuclear escalation.
Anton, a former officer in Russia’s nuclear forces, was stationed at a highly secretive nuclear base on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On that fateful day, the nuclear weapons base was placed on full combat alert. "Before that, we had only exercises. But on the day the war started, the weapons were fully in place," Anton recalls. "We were ready to launch the forces into the sea and air and, in theory, carry out a nuclear strike."
Life Inside a Secretive Nuclear Weapons Facility
Anton’s account offers a rare look into the tightly controlled environment of Russia’s nuclear forces. As an officer in charge of security at the base, he was responsible for ensuring that no personal phones were allowed and that access to the facility was strictly regulated. Visitors had to be approved by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) months in advance. "It’s a closed society, there are no strangers there," he explains.
The officers stationed at the base were professional soldiers, with no conscripts, and underwent constant checks and lie-detector tests. The pay was higher than that of regular soldiers, reflecting the sensitive nature of their work. According to Anton, these troops were not sent into battle but were tasked either with defending the base or carrying out a nuclear strike if ordered.
Escalating Tensions and the War Crime Order
Anton’s story takes a more alarming turn when he describes a "criminal order" given to him during the early days of the invasion. He was instructed to teach his troops that Ukrainian civilians were to be treated as combatants and destroyed. "They said that Ukrainian civilians are combatants and should be destroyed!" he exclaims. "That’s a red line for me – it’s a war crime. I said I won’t spread this propaganda." His refusal to comply with this directive led to severe consequences.
- Web DevelopmentIntermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and BeyondBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- Office ProductivityMastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- Data ScienceSQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data VisualizationBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- LeadershipFrom Idea to Product: A Startup Development GuideBy - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience
- Web DevelopmentAdvanced Java Mastery: Object-Oriented Programming TechniquesBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- Data ScienceSQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to ProBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- Web DevelopmentA Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- Artificial Intelligence(AI)AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding SkillsBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- Artificial Intelligence(AI)Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding EfficiencyBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- Office ProductivityMastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance AnalysisBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- StrategySuccession Planning MasterclassBy - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd.
- Artificial Intelligence(AI)AI and Analytics based Business StrategyBy - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI
- FinanceA2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner CourseBy - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge
- MarketingDigital Marketing Masterclass by Neil PatelBy - Neil Patel, Co-Founder and Author at Neil Patel Digital Digital Marketing Guru
- Artificial Intelligence(AI)ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI CourseBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- Artificial Intelligence(AI)AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial IntelligenceBy - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert
- Artificial Intelligence(AI)Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPTBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- AstrologyVastu Shastra CourseBy - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri
- Web DevelopmentAdvanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template TechniquesBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- Web DevelopmentMastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend ExcellenceBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer
- FinanceFinancial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire CodeBy - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator
- MarketingDigital Marketing Masterclass by Pam MooreBy - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert
He was reprimanded by his superiors and transferred to a regular assault brigade, a unit typically sent to the front lines as the “first wave” in battle. Anton’s defiance did not end there; he signed a statement refusing to take part in the war, which resulted in a criminal case being opened against him. "I showed them documents confirming my transfer to the assault brigade and details of the criminal case," he says.
Desertion and Escaping Russia
Before being sent to the frontlines, Anton made a bold decision to flee the country with the help of a volunteer organisation dedicated to assisting deserters. He explained that if he had tried to escape from the nuclear forces base, the FSB would have acted quickly to prevent it. "If I had run away from the nuclear forces base, then the local FSB Security Service would’ve reacted decisively and I probably wouldn’t have been able to leave the country," he said. However, after his transfer to the assault brigade, his high-level security clearance was no longer in effect, allowing him the opportunity to escape.
Anton joined the volunteer group “Idite Lesom,” or “Go by the Forest,” which helps deserters evade Russian authorities. The group has reported a sharp rise in the number of deserters seeking assistance, with up to 350 soldiers requesting help each month. The risks for those attempting to flee are growing, with some deserters being killed in the process or forcibly returned to Russia. "At least one deserter has been killed after fleeing abroad," Anton reveals, "and there have been several cases of men being forcibly returned to Russia and put on trial."
Living in Hiding: The Ongoing Threat
Though Anton has managed to escape Russia, he is not beyond the reach of the Russian authorities. The FSB continues to look for him, and he now lives in hiding. "I work off the books and I don’t show up in any official systems," he says. He takes extreme precautions to avoid detection and has stopped communicating with his former colleagues at the nuclear base to protect them from any repercussions. "They must take lie-detector tests, and any contact with me could lead to a criminal case," he explains.
Despite the constant danger he faces, Anton remains committed to helping other soldiers escape the war. "I understand the more I do that, the higher the chances they could try and kill me," he admits, acknowledging the grave risks involved in his actions.
Russia’s Nuclear Forces: Operational and Fully Maintained
Anton’s testimony also offers an important perspective on the state of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. Despite Western experts questioning the functionality of Russia’s nuclear weapons, especially those dating from the Soviet era, Anton strongly disagrees with this assessment. "There might be some old-fashioned types of weapons in some areas, but the country has an enormous nuclear arsenal, a huge amount of warheads, including constant combat patrol on land, sea, and air," he says. He insists that the maintenance of Russia’s nuclear forces is relentless and never stops for even a minute.
Shortly after the invasion began, President Vladimir Putin placed Russia’s nuclear deterrence forces on high alert. Anton confirmed that the combat alert was in place from the first day of the war. "We weren’t fighting in the war, we were just guarding the nuclear weapons," he explains. The heightened alert lasted for two to three weeks before it was lifted, but the threat of nuclear escalation remained ever-present.
The former officer’s account provides a chilling glimpse into the inner workings of Russia’s nuclear forces and the extraordinary steps taken to ensure readiness during the Ukraine invasion. It also sheds light on the dangers faced by Russian soldiers who oppose the war and attempt to desert. Despite the risks, Anton’s courage in speaking out and helping others escape the conflict serves as a rare and important testimony to the human side of the war.
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)