Soviet Nuclear Weapons Development and Testing (1949–1991)

1. Semipalatinsk Test Site selected for Soviet tests

   Jan 1, 1947Labels: Semipalatinsk Test, Lavrentiy Beria, Kazakh SSR

   • STS Wiki
   • NTI

2. First Soviet atomic bomb test (RDS-1)

   Aug 29, 1949Labels: RDS-1, Semipalatinsk Test, Soviet Union

   • History com
   • RDS 1 Wiki
   • Atomic Archive

3. First Soviet thermonuclear test (RDS-6s)

   Aug 12, 1953Labels: RDS-6s, Thermonuclear test, Soviet Union

   • RDS 6s Wiki

4. First Soviet two-stage H-bomb test (RDS-37)

   Nov 22, 1955Labels: RDS-37, Semipalatinsk Test, Thermonuclear weapon

   • RDS 37 Wiki
   • CIAR

5. Tsar Bomba detonated at Novaya Zemlya

   Oct 30, 1961Labels: Tsar Bomba, Novaya Zemlya, RDS-220

   • Britannica
   • Tsar Wiki

6. Partial Test Ban Treaty enters into force

   Oct 10, 1963Labels: Partial Test, United States, Soviet Union

   • Britannica
   • PTBT Wiki

7. NPT opened for signature (USSR among signatories)

   Jul 1, 1968Labels: NPT, Soviet Union, Non-Proliferation Treaty

   • Britannica
   • FAS NPT

8. Seabed Arms Control Treaty signed

   Feb 11, 1971Labels: Seabed Arms, Soviet Union, Maritime zone

   • Seabed Treaty

9. ABM Treaty signed in Moscow

   May 26, 1972Labels: ABM Treaty, United States, Soviet Union

   • ABM Treaty

10. Threshold Test Ban Treaty signed (150 kt limit)

    Jul 3, 1974Labels: Threshold Test, Soviet Union, United States

    • TTBT Wiki

11. Gorbachev announces unilateral Soviet test moratorium

    Aug 6, 1985Labels: Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet moratorium, Soviet Union

    • UPI

12. Soviet moratorium ends; nuclear testing resumes

    Feb 26, 1987Labels: Soviet Union, nuclear testing, Test moratorium

    • FAS CTBT

13. Nevada–Semipalatinsk movement founded

    Feb 26, 1989Labels: Nevada Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan, Anti-nuclear movement

    • Oxford Cabinet
    • Kazakhstan Anti nuke

14. Last Soviet nuclear test conducted

    Oct 24, 1990Labels: Novaya Zemlya, Soviet Union, Final test

    • UN History
    • Novaya Zemlya

15. Semipalatinsk Test Site closed by Kazakhstan decree

    Aug 29, 1991Labels: Semipalatinsk Test, Kazakhstan, Site closure

    • UN History
    • NTI