This database covers USSR nuclear tests from 1949 to 1990 (in three parts), Soviet and Russian hydrodynamic tests, and relevant events which were non-nuclear or of ambiguous nature.

Statistics on USSR nuclear tests

U.S.S.R. nuclear tests (see below for definitions)
year	nuclear tests
	above ground	underground	total
1949	1		1
1950
1951	2		2
1952
1953	5		5
1954	10		10
1955	7 (6)		7 (6)
1956	9		9
1957	16		16
1958	36 (34)		36 (34)
1959
1960
1961	58	1	59
1962	80 (78)	1	81 (79)
1963
1964		9	9
1965		14	14
1966		18	18
1967		17	17
1968		17	17
1969		19	19
1970		16	16
1971		23	23
1972		24	24
1973		17	17
1974		21	21
1975		19	19
1976		21	21
1977		24	24
1978		31	31
1979		31	31
1980		24	24
1981		21	21
1982		20 (19)	20 (19)
1983		27 (25)	27 (25)
1984		29 (27)	29 (27)
1985		10	10
1986
1987		24 (23)	24 (23)
1988		16	16
1989		7	7
1990		1	1
TOTAL	224	502 (491)	726 (715)

Here, one "test" is one or more detonations of nuclear yield over 10 kg TNT equivalent, with any multiple detonations within 0.1 seconds in time and 1 km in ground zero location. In addition to tests reported by Russia, another 11 tests with nuclear yield have been reported by other sources. Two shots with zero nuclear yield (one in 1950 and one in 1955) have been reported but are not included in the figures above. Parenthetical values are counts as reported by Russia, where they differ.

Above ground tests include surface bursts, atmospheric bursts, underwater bursts, and exoatmospheric bursts. Underground tests include cratering bursts as well as contained underground bursts.

U.S.S.R. nuclear explosions (see below for definitions)
year	nuclear explosions
	above ground	underground	total
1949	1		1
1950
1951	2		2
1952
1953	5		5
1954	10		10
1955	7 (6)		7 (6)
1956	9		9
1957	16		16
1958	36 (34)		36 (34)
1959
1960
1961	58	1	59
1962	80 (78)	1	81 (79)
1963
1964		9	9
1965		15	15
1966		19	19
1967		23	23
1968		23	23
1969		24	24
1970		21	21
1971		29	29
1972		31	31
1973		22	22
1974		27	27
1975		35	35
1976		27	27
1977		36	36
1978		55	55
1979		52	52
1980		43	43
1981		37	37
1982		35 (34)	35 (34)
1983		39 (37)	39 (37)
1984		45 (43)	45 (43)
1985		19	19
1986
1987		40 (39)	40 (39)
1988		29	29
1989		11	11
1990		8	8
TOTAL	224	756 (745)	980 (969)

Here, an "explosion" is a shot with nuclear yield over 10 kg TNT equivalent. In addition to explosions reported by Russia, another 11 shots with nuclear yield have been reported by other sources. Two shots with zero nuclear yield (one in 1950 and one in 1955) have been reported but are not included in the figures above. Parenthetical values are counts as reported by Russia, where they differ.

Above ground explosions include surface bursts, atmospheric bursts, underwater bursts, and exoatmospheric bursts. Underground explosions include cratering bursts as well as contained underground bursts.

Total yield of U.S.S.R. nuclear explosions (see below for definitions)
year	total yield (kt)			total yield est. (RNIFC)
	above ground	underground	total
1949	22		22	20
1950
1951	80		80	80
1952
1953	440		440	440
1954	122		122	120
1955	1,868		1,868	1,880
1956	1,976		1,976	1,980
1957	6,239		6,239	6,230
1958	16,252		16,252	16,230
1959
1960
1961	95,703	1	95,704	86,430
1962	141,547	15	141,562	133,830
1963
1964		157	157	110
1965		343	343	260
1966		1,954	1,954	1,850
1967		657	657	490
1968		585	585	510
1969		906	906	870
1970		2,625	2,625	2,510
1971		2,976	2,976	2,880
1972		1,646	1,646	1,620
1973		8,409	8,409	8,170
1974		3,750	3,750	3,610
1975		4,481	4,481	4,420
1976		629	629	520
1977		552	552	530
1978		1,290	1,290	1,130
1979		1,474	1,474	1,410
1980		902	902	770
1981		828	828	820
1982		659	659	640
1983		778	778	780
1984		1,330	1,330	1,320
1985		427	427	460
1986
1987		1,145	1,145	1,190
1988		905	905	910
1989		308	308	300
1990		70	70	70
TOTAL	264,249	39,802	304,051	285,390

The USSR conducted nuclear tests at three principal locations: the Semipalantisk Test Site in Kazakhstan, the Northern Test Site at Novaya Zemlya, Russia, and a small number at the Missile Test Range area in Kazakhstan. In addition, a large number of peaceful explosions were conducted throughout the USSR for various engineering or experimental applications.

Tests at Semipalantisk were mostly in four areas of the test site: atmospheric tests at the Poligon or Ground Zero area, underground tests in tunnels at Delegen, underground tests in shafts at Balapan, and underground tests at Sary-Uzen. Test locations are shown below superimposed on a NASA MODIS image (underground tests in red, atmospheric tests in blue, test site boundary in green). (Site boundaries are from Khalturin, Vitaly I., Tatyana G. Rautian, and Paul G. Richards, 2000, "A study of small magnitude seismic events during 1961-1989 on and near the Semipalatinsk Test Site, Kazakhstan," forthcoming, on line [http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~richards/PAGEOPHsupp.html].)

At Novaya Zemlya, tests were mostly in four areas: underwater and low-yield atmospheric tests in Chernaya Bay, atmospheric tests (including all high-yield tests) in the general area of Mityushikha Bay, underground tests at Matochkin Shar, and underground tests (including the high yield underground tests) at Belushya. Test locations are shown below superimposed on a NASA MODIS image (underground tests in red, atmospheric tests in blue, test site boundary in green). (Site boundaries are approximate.)

Tests around the Missile Test Range were often carried by missiles fired towards the Sary Shagan antiballistic missile site.

The USSR released little information regarding nuclear tests. Following the breakup of the USSR, the Russian government has released a variety of data. Some ambiguities remain. Times have not been announced for many tests. Yields have been announced for most atmospheric tests, peaceful underground explosions, and a few underground tests. Total yields have been reported by year and test site.

© 2005 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 22 June 2005.
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