Fresh satellite imagery has revealed a dramatic expansion at Russia’s Nenoksa nuclear missile testing facility, fueling international concerns over President Vladimir Putin’s long-term military ambitions and nuclear strategy. The base, located on Russia’s northern coast along the White Sea, has reportedly undergone extensive construction in recent months, including new missile storage facilities and launch infrastructure.
The Nenoksa site gained global attention in 2019 following a deadly explosion during a missile test that caused a radiation leak, killing at least five scientists and military engineers. That incident was linked to the testing of Russia’s experimental Burevestnik cruise missile, a nuclear-powered weapon with virtually unlimited range.
Now, updated images from commercial satellite providers show that the Kremlin is heavily investing in the base’s revival and modernization. New launch pads, bunkers, and underground storage sites have appeared across the facility. Analysts believe this may signal preparations for additional testing of nuclear-capable missiles, including advanced hypersonic systems.
Military experts cited in the report suggest that Putin is sending a message to NATO and the West: despite the Ukraine war and economic sanctions, Russia is accelerating its long-term strategic weapons development. Some analysts say the activity at Nenoksa aligns with recent Kremlin rhetoric emphasizing nuclear deterrence and readiness.
Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear weapons expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, commented that “the Nenoksa site is now clearly one of Russia’s top-tier nuclear weapons laboratories,” adding that “this kind of activity is not about Ukraine—it’s about the next 20 years.”
There are also suspicions that the renewed work at Nenoksa may be connected to Russia’s Poseidon nuclear torpedo program and the further development of the Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic missile, both of which are designed to evade Western missile defense systems.
Western intelligence services are closely monitoring the site, with some U.S. officials warning that Nenoksa’s revival could violate the spirit—if not the letter—of the New START treaty, which both Russia and the U.S. have suspended amid rising tensions.
In response to inquiries about the expansion, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to confirm specific weapons tests but emphasized that “Russia
Source; The Sun (Ireland)
