Novaya Zemlya Nuclear Test Base (NZNTB)

Novaya Zemlya Nuclear Test Base (NZNTB) – established under the decree of CPSU Central Committee and USSR Council of Ministers “On the Establishment of a Northern Nuclear Test Base at Novaya Zemlya Archipelago” (1954). NZNTB has been the central test base of Russian Ministry of Defense since 1992 (former 6th Central Test Base of USSR Ministry of Defense). N. codenamed Facility 700 was built during 1954–1955. NZNTB’s area is 90 thousand km², 55 thousand km²of which is land. Chornaya Bay was selected for the nuclear tests, the area of Matochkin Shar was selected for underground tests, and the area of Mitoshikha Bay was selected for air tests. The area of NZNTB was completely excluded from the country’s economic envelope. All 432 resident of Novaya Zemlya were relocated to the mainland. Numerous tests of nuclear weapons were carried out and nuclear waste buried during the Soviet times. The first nuclear test involving the explosion of 20 kt charge fitted into a T-5 torpedo at the depth...