Russian Nuclear Weapons: Past, Present, and Future

tegic Missile Troops at the Teikovo Missile Complex
(Ivanovo Region). On the occasion, the presidential
press service announced proudly:
The 54th missile division is the first formation in
charge of the new, refitted mobile land-based missile
system Topol-M. In 2006 the first missile battalion
armed with such weapons came into active service.
In December of last year a second Topol-M missile
battalion with three launchers was put into service at
the Teikovo Missile Complex. The Topol-M missile
complex represents the latest achievements of science
and technology. The take-off weight of the missiles is
47 tons, their military payload is 1200 kilograms, and
their flight range 10,000 kilometers. 73
Medvedev’s first year in power was marked by
the worst crisis in Russia’s relations with Georgia.
The August 2008, war between the two former Soviet
republics was ostensibly handled primarily by Medvedev
as the new Russian Commander-in-Chief even
though it is evident that Mr. Putin participated fully in
war planning and eventual resolution of the conflict. 74
While criticizing the United States for “unilateralism”
and foreign “adventurism” the Russian leaders
sought cooperation with the United States on many
evolving negative global phenomena—from fluctuating
market conditions to the rise of radicalism, international
terrorism, proliferation of WMD, etc. In
effect, despite its displeasure with the Republican Administration,
the Medvedev government demonstrated
eagerness to involve Russia in global cooperative
ventures led by the United States, e.g., the Group of 8
(G-8) and the Group of Twenty (G-20).
With the coming to power in the United States of
the Democratic Administration, both Medvedev and
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