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Russia Says It Foiled Two Attacks On Nuclear Defenses


22 June 2005 -- A senior official in Russia's Defense Ministry today said Russia foiled two separate attacks to break into nuclear-weapons installations.

Colonel General Igor Valynkin, who is in charge of Russian atomic arms safety, was quoted today as saying the two attempts were made in 2002 and 2003. He said the perpetrators were arrested but gave no further details on the attempts.

Valynkin said Russia's nuclear weapons arsenal was safe but said it was impossible to give a 100 percent guarantee against attacks.

Interfax news agency quoted him as saying the main threat came from Chechen separatist fighters.

(ITAR-TASS/Reuters)

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