Daily life of the Kremlin under presidents Shevchenko Vladimir Nikolaevich

"Nuclear suitcase"

When the country possessed only one or two atomic bombs, there was no need for the so-called "nuclear briefcase" or, as they say, "nuclear button". The Americans had such a system in the 60s, and we have it 20 years later, in 1983. Before the appearance of the "nuclear suitcase", it was assumed that in the event of a war, the leaders of nuclear countries should urgently arrive at the command post in order to give the order to launch missiles from there. Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev was to become the first owner of the "suitcase" in the Soviet Union. The designers, taking into account the state of his health, tried to make management as simple as possible. But neither Brezhnev nor Andropov did not carry the "suitcase" - they did not have time.

In accordance with the law, there are three "nuclear suitcases" in the country: the president, the defense minister and one reserve, in the General Staff. It is not customary to spread about what such a "suitcase" is from the inside. It is believed that there is a special communication tube and a device into which a cipher is inserted to launch missiles. Either in newspapers, or on the Internet, I read that it is allegedly impossible to launch rockets with its help, that is, other people in another place will press the "nuclear button", if necessary. In the "briefcase" and the accompanying bag, there is a unified system of instant response, which allows the president to instantly receive information about where and in how many minutes enemy warheads will fall on our territory, where they can be intercepted and what response actions have been taken. In addition, the system provides operational communication with all authorities responsible for the defense and security of the country. The decision to use nuclear weapons can only be taken jointly by the President, the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff.

The cases, which are usually called "suitcases", are made by the "Samsonite" company, their width is 10 centimeters, and they weigh several kilograms. Those who wear them are specialists who understand electronics and have experience on combat duty. Usually both of them appear in public in the form of captains of the first rank of the Navy, I do not know why the Navy. Maybe this "fashion" came from the Americans. Sometimes one is in civilian clothes. Both are holding a black briefcase and a bag. They are under the president permanently around the clock. When V.V.Putin flew in the Su-27 in the spring of 2000, another fighter with an operator holding a "nuclear briefcase" was flying next to him at the same speed.

American newspapers once wrote that when Ronald Reagan got stuck in the State Department building in an elevator, and the operator-operator safely climbed to the appropriate floor in a nearby elevator, America was deprived of control of its missile shield for a good half hour.

For the first time, Russian citizens saw our "nuclear button" on the television screen after December 1991. Western TV companies often showed two officers carrying a "suitcase" after Yeltsin as a symbol of presidential power. Everyone remembers how, preparing for a coronary artery bypass grafting operation, on November 5, 1996, by a special decree, Boris Yeltsin, by a special decree, transferred this by no means symbolic attribute of power to the second person of the state, Prime Minister V.S.Chernomyrdin. And barely recovering from anesthesia, he signed a new decree on the return of the nuclear console to the president.

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The Ecuadorian authorities have stripped Julian Assange of asylum at the London embassy. The founder of WikiLeaks was detained by the British police, and it has already been called the biggest betrayal in the history of Ecuador. Why are Assange avenged and what awaits him?

Julian Assange, a programmer and journalist from Australia, became widely known after in 2010 the website WikiLeaks, which he founded, published classified documents of the US State Department, as well as materials related to military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But it was rather difficult to find out who the policemen, supporting by the arms, were taking out of the building. Assange dropped his beard and did not at all look like the energetic man, which he still appeared in the photographs.

According to Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno, Assange was denied asylum due to his repeated violations of international conventions.

He is expected to remain at a police station in central London until he appears at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Why is the President of Ecuador accused of treason

Former President of Ecuador Rafael Correa called the decision of the current government the biggest betrayal in the country's history. "What he (Moreno. - Ed.) Has done is a crime that humanity will never forget," said Correa.

London, on the other hand, thanked Moreno. The British Foreign Office believes that justice has been done. Representative of the Russian diplomatic department Maria Zakharova has a different opinion. “The hand of“ democracy ”squeezes the throat of freedom,” she said. The Kremlin expressed the hope that the rights of the arrested person would be respected.

Ecuador harbored Assange because the former president was center-left, criticized US policies, and welcomed WikiLeaks' publication of classified documents on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even before the internet activist needed asylum, he managed to get to know Correa personally: he interviewed him for the Russia Today channel.

However, in 2017, the power in Ecuador changed, the country headed for rapprochement with the United States. The new president called Assange "a stone in his boot" and immediately made it clear that his stay at the embassy would not be prolonged.

According to Correa, the moment of truth came at the end of June last year, when US Vice President Michael Pence arrived in Ecuador. Then everything was decided. "You can rest assured that Lenin is just a hypocrite. He has already agreed with the Americans about Assange's fate. And now he is trying to make us swallow the pill, saying that Ecuador is allegedly continuing the dialogue," Correa said in an interview with Russia Today.

How Assange made new enemies

The day before the arrest, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Christine Hrafnsson said that Assange was under total surveillance. "WikiLeaks has uncovered a large-scale espionage operation against Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy," he said. According to him, cameras and voice recorders were placed around Assange, and the information received was transmitted to the Donald Trump administration.

Hrafnsson clarified that Assange was going to be expelled from the embassy a week earlier. This did not happen only because WikiLeaks released this information. A high-ranking source told the portal about the plans of the Ecuadorian authorities, but the head of the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry, Jose Valencia, denied the rumors.

The expulsion of Assange was preceded by a corruption scandal around Moreno. In February, WikiLeaks published a package of INA Papers, which traced the operations of the offshore company INA Investment, founded by the brother of the Ecuadorian leader. Quito said that this is Assange's conspiracy with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and former head of Ecuador Rafael Correa to overthrow Moreno.

In early April, Moreno complained about Assange's behavior in the London mission of Ecuador. “We have to protect the life of Mr. Assange, but he has already crossed all boundaries in the sense of violating the agreement that we came to with him,” the president said. “This does not mean that he cannot speak freely, but he cannot lie and engage in hacking. ". At the same time, back in February last year, it became known that Assange was deprived of the opportunity to interact with the outside world at the embassy, in particular, his access to the Internet was turned off.

Why Sweden stopped persecuting Assange

At the end of last year, Western media, citing sources, reported that Assange would be charged in the United States. This was never officially confirmed, but it was because of Washington's position that Assange had to take refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy six years ago.

Sweden, in May 2017, stopped investigating two cases of rape, in which the founder of the portal was accused. Assange demanded from the government of the country compensation for legal costs in the amount of 900 thousand euros.

Earlier, in 2015, the Swedish prosecutor's office also dropped three charges against him due to the statute of limitations.

Where did the rape investigation lead?

Assange arrived in Sweden in the summer of 2010 hoping to get protection from the American authorities. But he came under investigation in the rape case. In November 2010, a warrant for his arrest was issued in Stockholm, Assange was put on the international wanted list. He was detained in London, but was soon released on bail of 240 thousand pounds.

In February 2011, a British court ruled to extradite Assange to Sweden, followed by a series of successful appeals for the founder of WikiLeaks.

The British authorities placed him under house arrest before deciding to extradite him to Sweden. Breaking his promise to the authorities, Assange asked for asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy, which was granted to him. Since then, the UK has had its own claims against the founder of WikiLeaks.

What now awaits Assange

According to police, the man was re-arrested at the request of the United States for extradition for publishing classified documents. At the same time, Deputy Foreign Minister Alan Duncan said that Assange would not be sent to the United States if he faced the death penalty there.

In the UK, Assange is likely to stand trial on the afternoon of April 11. This is stated on the WikiLeaks Twitter page. Probably, the British authorities will seek a maximum sentence of 12 months, said the man's mother, citing his lawyer.

At the same time, the Swedish prosecutor's office is considering the possibility of reopening the investigation into the rape charge. Lawyer Elizabeth Massy Fritz, who represented the interests of the victim, will seek this.

The nuclear briefcase is not only a portable remote control for activating the country's defense system, but also a real symbol of state power. We decided to tell you what it is, how it works and who it belongs to.

The scepter and orb are a thing of the past. In today's world, when nuclear weapons are a deterrent, a nuclear briefcase can be considered a symbol of power and might.
What is it? We often hear about him, but know little about him. And we will never know everything. There is a concept of state secrets. However, the basic principles of its work are still known.

To simplify completely, the nuclear briefcase is a telephone. It houses a communication system with the general headquarters and command posts of the strategic missile forces. The suitcase is activated by pressing the notorious nuclear button. In the event of a threat of a missile attack, it transmits the encrypted code of the command post of the Strategic Missile Forces. Of course, the decision to retaliate cannot be made by one person. There are several nuclear cases. Only if the signal is received from all devices, the decision is made to launch the missiles.

The case of spontaneous pressing of the button is excluded. According to the former chief of the main headquarters, Viktor Esin, the chance of a mistake in the operation of the YaCh is zero. Nuclear cases are frequently checked and repaired. This is evidenced at least by the fact that Boris Yeltsin received a nuclear briefcase number 51 from Gorbachev's hands at one time. The first president of Russia lamented for a long time about this. As a result, his suitcase was replaced with another one with the number 1.

Ours and theirs

Leaders of all countries possessing nuclear weapons have nuclear briefcases. However, they can be called differently. A nuclear briefcase in the United States is not a briefcase, but rather a bag. The first American nuclear bags were shaped like a baseball, hence the name Nuclear Football. In the main, the principle of their operation does not differ from the Russian YCh, but there are differences. In the bowels of Nuclear Football is a titanium box, closed with a combination lock, which is opened with a plastic, so-called authorization card. Also in the US nuclear bag is a 30-page instruction manual for the device. They say that when the attack on the twin skyscrapers was carried out, then US President George W. Bush opened his briefcase and read the briefing.

The Russian nuclear briefcase can also be called the Cheget subscriber complex of the Kazbek automated control system for strategic nuclear forces. In order not to attract too much attention, it is made in the form of a diplomat. The nuclear briefcase, like the American "ball", is a portable remote control; it is carried both in America and in Russia by specially trained officers who always accompany the leaders of countries.

In Russia, a communications officer is not lower than the rank of lieutenant colonel. However, according to tradition, he is dressed in the uniform of the navy. In America, the right to carry the "ball" can only be achieved by an officer with the highest security clearance, called the "white Yankee". A man with a nuclear briefcase is always armed. The ball is fastened to one of his hands, with the other he has the right to draw out a weapon and shoot without warning in case of a threat.

As already mentioned, there are several nuclear suitcases. In Russia, they are with the president of the country, the chief of staff and the minister of defense.

The world is on the edge

The first nuclear briefcase appeared during the Cold War with US President Eisenhower. The American "nuclear ball" acquired its present appearance, however, already during the Kennedy presidency, during the Cuban missile crisis, when the likelihood of a nuclear war hung over the world with all the evidence. Before the advent of YCh, the decision to launch missiles in response could only be made from the Kremlin and the White House, which was very inefficient, given the speed of the missiles' arrival.

In the USSR, YCh was created under Brezhnev, but Andropov became the first user of the cherished nuclear button. The very name "nuclear briefcase" was invented by Soviet journalists. An adequate translation of the American definitions of Nuclear Football and President's Emergency Satchel was needed, but it was considered stupid to call a missile launcher a ball and a knapsack, and so the “nuclear briefcase” appeared. the significance of this moment is comparable to the transmission of a scepter, sword or other symbol of power.

Interestingly, once a Russian nuclear briefcase was even activated. This happened on January 25, 1995, when Norway launched the largest weather rocket, Black Brant XII. Its flight path could be confused with the American Triadent ballistic missile.

Fortunately, everything worked out, because in the event of a nuclear war, even if the nuclear suitcases do not work, the Perimeter emergency retaliatory strike system (the Americans called it the "Dead Hand") will be activated in Russia and the world will end.

In miniature: this is what the American president's nuclear briefcase looks like.

Nuclear suitcase / Photo: Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

In March 1979, the automated control system of nuclear forces (YASUYAS) of the country "Kazbek" took up combat duty. It is known to the general public thanks to the subscriber complex (AK) "Cheget" or the nuclear suitcase.

The development of a mobile device for the operational command of the Strategic Missile Forces was attended to in the 70s, when the USSR was seriously afraid of a third world war: the country's leadership could give an order to launch missiles only after arriving at the command post, and the time of arrival of American Pershing missiles from Western Europe was seven minutes ...

Where is his button

Developed "Cheget" under Leonid Brezhnev and made the management as simple as possible so that the elderly general secretary could figure it out. But Brezhnev did not get the suitcase - they did not have time to bring the system to mind. And Andropov too. The trial operation of the complex began in 1983 with Defense Minister Dmitry Ustinov and Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Ogarkov. A year later, "Cheget" was received by Konstantin Chernenko. Full-scale tests of the system in different modes continued for another year. A fully working suitcase was handed over to Mikhail Gorbachev. They say that the last secretary general of the USSR examined the product with interest, but did not delve into the details - for this, they say, there are specialists.

The ceremony of handing over to Vladimir Putin the "nuclear suitcase" - the control system of the nuclear forces of Russia / Photo:ru.wikipedia.org

There is no notorious "red button" in the briefcase - missiles are launched by calculations and it is not a button that appears there, but a special key. "Cheget" can only give the command to use nuclear weapons, unlocking the system with a presidential code. Also in the briefcase is satellite communication equipment with the Minister of Defense, the General Staff, the command post of the Strategic Missile Forces and other people necessary in crisis situations. For the same purpose, a car with special communications equipment follows the head of state everywhere, similar equipment is mounted in places where he is constantly.

In addition to the presidential complex, two more "Cheget" are constantly on alert: the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff. There are, of course, more suitcases: some are in reserve, for preventive maintenance and modernization. They say that Boris Yeltsin got a suitcase with number 51. The first president of Russia was indignant and the number was changed to one. From time to time, the Cheget's performance is checked: the commander-in-chief gives orders for training launches with their help. No failures were recorded.

The only case when the head of state used the nuclear briefcase for its intended purpose occurred on January 25, 1995. A large meteorological rocket took off from an island off the coast of Norway, and the warning about its launch was lost in the Foreign Ministry. The Kazbek system was switched to combat mode, Boris Yeltsin used the Cheget to communicate with military advisers. After the rocket flew safely where it was supposed to, the system returned to its normal state.

Rocket launchers

The nuclear briefcase is carried by a special officer of the signal troops, an operator. In addition to the obligation to always be near the person authorized to control the country's nuclear forces, the officer must thoroughly know the materiel entrusted to him and, if necessary, prompt the Kazbek subscriber how to act. Traditionally, Cheget's operators are dressed in naval uniforms.

V. Putin flies / arrives in Krymsk. This is the same suitcase / Photo: Photo: fishki.net

The first candidates were personally selected by the project curator, Chief of Operations Directorate of the General Staff Ivan Nikolaev. In addition to knowing the structure, responsibility and perseverance, he presented one more requirement to the applicants: not to be shy in front of the authorities. I checked it on myself, appearing in front of the subject with all regalia. “If you get frightened in front of the general, how to show you to the General Secretary,” Nikolayev said. “You’ll faint again.”

Asymmetric response

"Cheget" and "Kazbek" are instruments of retaliation. The system switches to combat mode after receiving a signal about a missile attack on Russia.

First comes the signal from the missile attack warning system. The general on duty of the command post in Solnechnogorsk checks the information and only after that the Kazbek system can be switched to combat mode, ”said Viktor Yesin, chief of the main headquarters of the Strategic Missile Forces in 1994-1996.

Russia also has an alternative to Kazbek nuclear forces control system. It operates without human intervention and guarantees a retaliatory strike even with the complete destruction of the country's leadership and command posts. The system is called "Perimeter", NATO nicknamed it Dead hand - Dead hand.