Russia Holds Nuclear Terror Drills

In August, NATO officials had their first up-close look at Russia's efforts to defend its nuclear arsenal against terrorist attacks.

On Aug. 3-5, "Avaria 2004" (Accident 2004) exercises involving more than 1,000 army troops and various law enforcement personnel were held in the northern Murmansk region of Russia. The exercises, held under the auspices of the Russia-NATO Council work program, focused on defending Russia's nuclear facilities and nuclear weapons in transit and the consequences of potential nuclear accidents. The exercises were put together by the 12th Main Directorate, a division of the Defense Ministry in charge of the security of Russia's nuclear weapons storage …