Russia Withdrawing From Nuclear Test Ban Pact - Update

[william]

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's representative in the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) organization, announced on Friday that Moscow intends to withdraw its ratification of the treaty to be "on equal footing with the USA". The United States signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, but did not ratify it. Washington has already condemned Moscow's announcement.

Russia ratified the CTBTO in 2000. Ulyanov noted that withdrawing from the Treaty does not mean that Russia will resume testing nuclear weapons.

Russia's decision was met with a reaction from Washington. "We are disturbed by the comments of Ambassador Ulyanov in Vienna today. A move like this by any State Party needlessly endangers the global norm against nuclear explosive testing," announced a representative of the State Department, quoted by the Associated Press (AP).
He suggested that the actual goal of Moscow is to increase pressure on the US and other countries to halt weapons supplies and other assistance to Ukraine defending itself against Russian aggression.
AP notes that, although the United States has not ratified the CTBT agreement, it has been observing an informal moratorium on nuclear weapons testing since 1992 and has no intention of resuming them.

Moscow withdraws from the international agreement​

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, signed by 187 countries on September 24, 1996 in New York, imposes a complete ban on nuclear testing. So far, it has been ratified by 178 countries. However, for it to come into effect, ratification by 44 countries mentioned in the text of the treaty is required. So far, the ratification process has been completed by 34 of them.
China, Egypt, Iran, and Israel signed the agreement, but did not ratify it. North Korea, India, and Pakistan did not sign the agreement.

Russia is withdrawing from the nuclear test ban pact. USA is disturbed

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's representative in the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) organization, announced on…

essanews.com

 

[Drumboy44]

Satellite images that the Barents Observer has studied together with the Norwegian-based Bellona Foundation this summer and autumn show building activities at Severnaya, the settlement supporting Russia’s only active polygon for testing of nuclear weapons materials. The buildings, however, can’t directly be tied to a change in policy towards real tests of nuclear warheads.



There is no evidence supporting that the tunnels in the valleys south and west of Severnaya are being prepared for real nuclear detonations.

The question is important because the call for resumption has been voiced loudly in recent propaganda.

Although the roads deeper into the valley are maintained and trucks periodically can be seen at some locations, there are no changes, or hint of new tunnel constructions in recent months.

“We haven’t seen activities near any of the tunnels that indicate more than the continuation of the ongoing sub-critical tests program,” says Frederic Hauge, head of the Bellona Foundation.

No signs of any imminent nuclear tests at Novaya Zemlya

Amid dark rhetoric from the Kremlin, lawmakers and propagandists with threats to abandon the test ban treaty, there are hardly any visible indications at Russia’s Arctic test site substantiating ongoing preparations to resume nuclear tests.

thebarentsobserver.com

 

[Citizen-21]

"Russia has no functional nukes" is one of the most dangerous myths of our society.

It is a delusion made of lies applied to hubris that might affect decision making and bring lots of ruin. It must be dispersed.

 

[Friendly Engineer]

"Russia has no functional nukes" is one of the most dangerous myths of our society.

It is a delusion made of lies applied to hubris that might affect decision making and bring lots of ruin. It must be dispersed.

Russia's nukes work.

 

[Drumboy44]

"A draft law on de-ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has been published. The State Duma will consider it in three readings next week. The bill was signed by 440 deputies out of 450 — a record in the history of the State Duma."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1713078745009958944

 

[Kiteh]

And it's gone.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1717272368362475872

 

[Irag8er]

PRESS STATEMENT
ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE

Russia’s Planned Withdrawal of Its CTBT Ratification ​

Russia’s Planned Withdrawal of Its CTBT Ratification - United States Department of State

We are deeply concerned by Russia’s planned action to withdraw its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Unfortunately, it represents a significant step in the wrong direction, taking us further from, not closer to, entry into force. Russia’s action will only serve to...

www.state.gov

 

[DEFCON Warning System]

For those who don't want to follow the link:

We are deeply concerned by Russia’s planned action to withdraw its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Unfortunately, it represents a significant step in the wrong direction, taking us further from, not closer to, entry into force. Russia’s action will only serve to set back confidence in the international arms control regime. We appreciate the similar statements of concern expressed by many other States in recent weeks about this action.

We will continue to emphasize the irresponsibility of Russia’s recent rhetoric regarding nuclear weapon explosive testing and the CTBT. This continues Moscow’s disturbing and misguided effort to heighten nuclear risks and raise tensions as it pursues its illegal war against Ukraine.

Russian officials say Russia’s planned move to withdraw its ratification does not mean that it will resume testing, and we urge Moscow to hold to those statements. The United States remains committed to achieving the entry into force of the CTBT, and we reiterate our commitment to our zero-yield nuclear explosive testing moratorium, which has been in place for 30 years. It is essential that we preserve the global norm against nuclear explosive testing.

 

[Friendly Engineer]

Russia's nukes work.

Should be worth saying after the recent Minuteman test:
The USA's nukes work.

 

[Publius]

Oh hell only takes a few to work.

While I am not encouraged by this step.
It was inevitable in the current environment.

We should have expected it. I suspected most of us weren’t.