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Russia's nuclear ammunition depots well protected - official
ITAR-TASS

Moscow, 25 October: A Russian Defence Ministry official stated on Thursday [25 October] that the country's nuclear ammunition depots are well protected, and can even hold a nuclear strike.

"We do not fear direct attack, such as the one that took place in the United States on 11 September," head of the ministry's 12th Main Department Col-Gen Igor Valynkin told reporters.

"As for terrorists operating on the ground, their attacks are possible," Valynkin said, emphasizing however that "additional security measures have been taken at the nuclear facilities".

"We put more guard units on security staff, which are better equipped and trained," according to the general.

Such units are capable of confronting terrorists groups, for example those that operate in Chechnya, Valynkin said.

"We have coordinated plans with the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service to help us in case of terrorist attack. Tougher security measures and physical protection of the facilities makes the penetration by terrorists impossible," he said.

According to the general, terrorists carried out reconnaissance of nuclear facilities, but no attempts have been made to penetrate into them.

The Defence Ministry recently took measures to improve the technical protection of nuclear depots. The United States helped a lot, by providing modern technical assets, Valynkin said.

The General noted that the military command attaches great significance to this issue. The Russian facilities are constantly checked for vulnerability. The condition of each facility is evaluated separately, he added.

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