On January 25, 1995, Russia’s early-warning defense radar detects an unexpected missile launch near Norway, and Russian military command estimates the missile to be just minutes from impact on Moscow. Moments later, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, his defense minister and his chief of staff are informed and the nuclear command systems switched to combat mode. This marks the first time in the history of the Soviet-made weapons system that the nuclear suitcases carried by the president and his top commander were ever activated.
By: History.com Editors
1995
Russia activates its nuclear command systems for the first time
Published: July 21, 2010
Last Updated: January 24, 2025
The President's Nuclear Football
The top secret "nuclear football" accompanies the president at all times.
Five minutes after the launch detection, Russian command determined that the missile’s impact point would be outside Russia’s borders. Three more minutes passed, and Yeltsin was informed that the launching was likely not part of a surprise nuclear strike by Western nuclear submarines.
These conclusions came minutes before Yeltsin and his commanders should have ordered a nuclear response based on standard launch on warning protocols. Later, it was revealed that the missile, launched from Spitzbergen, Norway, was actually carrying instruments for scientific measurements. Nine days before, Norway had notified 35 countries, including Russia, of the exact details of the planned launch. The Russian Defense Ministry had received Norway’s announcement but had neglected to inform the on-duty personnel at the early-warning center of the imminent launch. The event raised serious concerns about the quality of the former Soviet Union’s nuclear systems.
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Citation Information
- Article title
- Russia activates its nuclear command systems for the first time
- Author
- History.com Editors
- Website Name
- History
- Date Accessed
- March 22, 2025
- Publisher
- A&E Television Networks
- Last Updated
- January 24, 2025
- Original Published Date
- July 21, 2010
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