Russian deserter who guarded nuclear weapons base says there were constant lie-detector tests

In this image, a missile is seen at an undisclosed location in Russia.

A Russian deserter who once served as an officer at a top-secret nuclear weapons facility in Russia said that everybody at the base was regularly subjected to lie-detector tests.

The deserter, identified only as Anton for his protection, revealed little-known details about guarding Russian nuclear weapons to BBC News.

The media outlet said it verified his unit, rank, and base using official documents.

“There are constant checks and lie-detector tests for everyone,” Anton said, offering rare insight into the pervasive paranoia and surveillance on a Russian nuclear base.

Anton recounted that on the day Russia invaded Ukraine, his unit was placed on combat alert and that, “in theory,” his base was ready to carry out a nuclear strike.

Anton told BBC News that his unit was “shut inside the base” from day one of the invasion, going on to describe life there as regimented and heavily monitored.

“It was my responsibility to ensure the soldiers under me didn’t take any phones onto the nuclear base,” he said, adding that no strangers were allowed on-site, and even parental visits required clearance from Russia’s FSB at least three months in advance.

The Federation of American Scientists estimates that Russia’s military stockpile includes about 4,380 nuclear warheads, along with some 1,200 retired warheads waiting to be dismantled.

Since the 2022 invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine and the West. Last week, Putin approved major changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for an attack.

At the start of the Ukraine war, Anton told BBC News that he carried out his duties guarding nuclear weapons, but things changed when he was asked to deliver lectures to his troops.

Using specific written guidelines, he said he was told to characterize Ukrainian civilians as “combatants” that should be “destroyed.”

“That’s a red line for me — it’s a war crime,” Anton told BBC News. “I said I won’t spread this propaganda.”

In response, Anton said senior officers ordered him to be transferred to a regular assault brigade, preparing him to be deployed to the front lines.

However, before being sent to fight, Anton signed a document refusing to participate, and a criminal case was opened against him.

The BBC said it reviewed documents confirming both his unit transfer and the criminal case.

Anton managed to escape Russia with the help of an organization of deserters. He told BBC News this was only possible because he was no longer stationed at the high-security nuclear base.

He said he believes security forces are still searching for him and is taking precautions to avoid appearing on any official systems.

He also said that he’d had to cut off contact with all of his former colleagues. “They must take lie-detector tests, and any contact with me could lead to a criminal case.”