Soviet Union programme

Rimmington, Anthony, Fragmentation and Proliferation The Fate of the Soviet Union s Offensive Biological Weapons Programme, Contemporary Security Policy, Vol. 20, April 1999, pp. 86-110. 

Russia inherited the world s largest declared stockpile of chemical weapons, over 40,000 metric tons, from the Soviet Union. The Russian government has identified chemical weapons destruction as one of its two priority areas of concern for the G-8 Global Partnership accord against the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Although issues of economics have often dominated what has been said and written about the disposal programme, lack of local community support is also cited as a major political obstacle. Many of the same concerns detailed extensively by US citizens are also asserted by Russian citizens. Foremost is concern about the detrimental effects of chemical weapons destruction on public health and the environment . ... 

Tests of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere were conducted by five countries during the period 1945-1980. The most active test period was between 1952 and 1962, when many tests were conducted by the United States and the former Soviet Union and a limited testing programme was carried out by the United Kingdom. Atmospheric testing by France occurred from 1960 through 1974 and by China from 1964 through 1980. No further atmospheric tests have taken place since 1980. 

First international agreements on the programme of seasonal cruises and commitments on the data exchange took place at a meeting of heads of the hydrographic services of the GDR, Poland, and the Soviet Union in July 1956. The agreements were realized only in a very... 

Aluminium clad spent nuclear fuel from research and test reactors worldwide is currently being stored in water filled basins while awaiting final disposition. Much of this fuel was provided to the various countries by the United States of America as part of the Atoms for Peace programme in the early 1950s. Other fuel was provided by the former Soviet Union. The spent fuel has been in water at the reactor sites for up to 40 years, in some cases, awaiting shipment back to the USA or to the Russian Federation. 

Nuclear energy is playing an important role in supplying a significant portion of the world electricity demand. In spite of the slowdown or stoppage of nuclear programmes in many countries in the last decade utilization of nuclear power is picking up momentum at various bases in South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. 

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