Nuclear diplomacy suffers major setback in Russia’s war on Ukraine
The total number of nuclear warheads fell worldwide, but the amount of operational nuclear weapons started to rise.
Nuclear Security & WMD
News and insights on nuclear security policy and weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical and biological weapons), amid threats and risks ranging from Russia's war in Ukraine to North Korea's missile tests.
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Ukraine dam blast unleashes disaster with nuclear ramifications
Kyiv said Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station along the Dnieper River, while Moscow blamed it on the Ukrainian military.
Nuclear tensions fuel disarmament agenda for Hiroshima G-7 summit
Humanitarian leaders say the risk of nuclear catastrophe is the highest 'since the worst moments of the Cold War.'
Russian evacuation around Ukraine plant alarms U.N. nuclear watchdog
IAEA experts at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant were closely monitoring the situation after learning the town of Enerhodar was being evacuated.
International arms control at a 'crossroads' over nuclear threats
Despite his concerns about Russia and China and the "unraveling" of the international arms controls regimes the world has long depended on, the NATO chief emphasized the need to negotiate new arms control arrangements.
G-7 pushes back against aggressive nuclear moves by Russia and China
The Group of Seven's nonproliferation directors expressed alarm that Russia, China and North Korea have all been pushing to expand their nuclear-armed capabilities.
Stockpiles of nuclear weapons available for use increased in 2022
The number of nuclear warheads that are available to nations for deployment reached 9,576 at the start of 2023, up from 9,440 a year earlier, according to a watchdog's new report.
U.N. atomic watchdog chief 'astonished by the complacency'
After the latest round of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine, Europe's biggest nuclear power plant is running on emergency diesel generators to prevent a major radiation catastrophe.
Russia to suspend role in last remaining nuclear accord with U.S.
Vladimir Putin said Russia will not withdraw from the treaty but will no longer allow NATO countries to inspect its nuclear arsenal, which is at the heart of the agreement.
U.S. says Russia is violating terms of the New START nuclear arms treaty
The United States says Russia won't allow American inspectors to inspect its arsenal to ensure compliance with the post-Cold War agreement the two nations renewed for five years in 2021.
Doomsday Clock set at 90 seconds to ‘midnight’ - closest ever in its history
The symbolic clock was reset closer to the symbolic hour of apocalpyse largely due to Russia's war in Ukraine, which has raised the risk of a nuclear confrontation with the West.
IAEA making "headway" towards Zaporizhzhya protection zone
U.N. atomic watchdog chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said diplomatic efforts to set up the nuclear safety and security protection zone are progressing and he hopes to soon reach agreement and put the much-needed measures into place.
U.N. atomic watchdog to secure all of Ukraine's nuclear plants
IAEA's director general and Ukraine’s prime minister announced the agreement for the U.N. atomic watchdog agency to establish a continuous presence of nuclear safety and security experts at all Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
U.S. open to New START talks with Russia after both 'prepared to meet'
The U.S. and Russia agreed to renew New START for another five years in February 2021, just before it was set to expire. The treaty was extended without changes, but the prospect of new talks chilled with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
U.N. committee against nukes, chemical and biological weapons renewed for next decade
The committee monitors implementation of council resolution 1540, approved in 2004 to prevent "non-state actors" from getting their hands on or trafficking a nuclear, biological or chemical weapon.
Ukraine asks IAEA to rebut Russia's 'dirty bomb' claims
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba appealed to the U.N. nuclear watchdog to debunk Moscow’s claims Kyvi plans to use so-called dirty bombs.