Russian Officer Breaks Silence on Guarding Nuclear Weapons and War Secrets
On the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Anton, a former officer in Russia’s nuclear forces, witnessed an unprecedented escalation.
“Our base went to full combat alert,” he recalls. “We were prepared to deploy nuclear weapons by air and sea, even execute a strike if ordered.”
Meeting Anton outside Russia in an undisclosed location, the BBC confirmed his military credentials through documentation, though some details of his account remain unverifiable. For his safety, Anton’s identity has been hidden, and his name changed.
Guarding Russia’s Nuclear Arsenal
Anton served at a highly classified nuclear weapons facility. He revealed that within hours of the invasion, Russian state media dominated the base, isolating personnel from outside news. “We were sealed inside, performing our duties without fully understanding the scale of what was happening,” he said.
The heightened alert, ordered by President Vladimir Putin three days into the war, was called off after two to three weeks. Despite this, Anton’s story sheds light on the otherwise impenetrable world of Russian nuclear operations.
“The selection process for these posts is rigorous. Every soldier is a professional, not a conscript,” Anton explained. Troops undergo regular lie-detector tests, receive higher pay, and remain solely focused on nuclear defense or deployment.
Daily life on the base was tightly controlled. “No phones, no visitors without extensive approval,” Anton said. “If family wanted to visit, we needed clearance from the FSB months in advance.”
A Well-Oiled Machine or a Soviet Relic?
Russia is believed to have 4,380 operational nuclear warheads, with around 1,700 ready for deployment. Western experts have speculated that some of these weapons may be outdated, but Anton dismissed this claim.
“That’s an oversimplification,” he said. “Maintenance is relentless. The arsenal is modern and combat-ready.”
Anton described his role as part of the rapid-response security team, trained to react within two minutes. “We drilled constantly,” he said, with evident pride.
However, the looming threat of nuclear escalation remains a concern. Russia has recently revised its nuclear doctrine, now permitting nuclear strikes in response to significant conventional attacks by non-nuclear states supported by nuclear powers.
A Crisis of Conscience
Despite his specialized role, Anton found himself grappling with moral dilemmas. Shortly after the invasion began, he was ordered to deliver propaganda lectures, instructing his troops that Ukrainian civilians should be considered “combatants” and eliminated.
“That was a red line for me,” he said. “It’s a war crime. I refused.”
His defiance led to his transfer to a regular assault brigade, notorious for deploying soldiers as expendable “first-wave” forces. Anton was soon under threat of being sent to the frontlines.
He refused again, signing a formal statement rejecting participation in the war, which triggered a criminal case against him. Facing potential imprisonment, Anton decided to flee Russia.
Escape and Resistance
With the help of a volunteer group aiding deserters, Anton managed to leave the country. He believes that his transfer from the high-security nuclear unit allowed him to slip through cracks in the system.
“If I’d tried to escape directly from the nuclear base, I’d never have made it. The FSB would have caught me immediately,” he admitted.
Now living covertly abroad, Anton continues to assist other soldiers seeking to escape. The risks, however, are ever-present. At least one deserter has been killed, and others forcibly returned to Russia to face trial.
“I understand the danger I’m in,” Anton said. “Every time I help someone, I increase the chances they’ll come after me.”
Anton has cut ties with his former colleagues to protect them. “They’re under constant surveillance. Contact with me could destroy their lives.”
Despite the risks, Anton wants the world to know one thing: many Russian soldiers oppose the war. “Not everyone supports this. People are standing up, even if it costs them everything.”
