Valeri Kuznetsov

Major Valeri Kuznetsov served in the Soviet strategic missile forces and was stationed at a nuclear missile bunker in Ukraine during the Cold War. He reflects on the gravity of his duty, which would have involved launching nuclear missiles if ordered, emphasizing the existential threats of that era. Today, at 71, Kuznetsov expresses regret over Ukraine's decision to relinquish its nuclear arsenal after gaining independence, considering it a mistake that may have left the country vulnerable in the face of Russian aggression.