Russia’s nuclear secrets are on the web

…and viewing them didn’t even require Chris Hemsworth-level hacking knowledge.

Journalists from the Danish Danwatch and the German Der Spiegel recently discovered Russian nuclear secrets on a publicly available procurement database, where companies bid on military projects.

The 2+ million uncovered documents provide an unprecedented level of detail into Russia’s nuclear weapons facilities and the country’s nearly two-decade-long push to modernize them, including:

• How large quantities of steel, sand, cement, bricks, and insulation were sourced (much of it indirectly from numerous European companies), as well as intel surrounding more sensitive things like IT systems, electrical installations, and routing of water, heating, and ventilation.
• Information about security systems, such as alarms, explosion-proof doors, and infrared sensors. In some cases, the locations and types of internal surveillance cameras are specified, as are the location of the control rooms, and which buildings are connected to each other via underground tunnels.
• Other details of the internal layout are also available, including where the soldiers eat, relax, sleep, and use the toilet—in great detail. Those reading the docs can glean what exercise equipment they use (primarily treadmills and hand weights), what games they play to pass the time (chess and checkers), and even what signs hang on the walls (“Stop! Turn around! Forbidden zone!” or “The Military Oath” or “Rules for shoe care”).

As you may expect, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is big mad over the leak. Many analysts speculate it will force Russia to rebuild some of its nuclear infrastructure from scratch, potentially costing billions.

The lapse also comes alongside a major victory for Ukraine. On Sunday, in an operation dubbed "Spider Web," 100+ Ukrainian drones—reportedly launched from vehicles being driven by unsuspecting Russian truckers—struck air bases in several time zones across Russia. The attack targeted Moscow’s nuclear-capable long-range bombers, successfully hitting about a third of Russia’s supply of these aircraft (41), which are used for missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

In other nuclear news…The Trump administration confirmed on Saturday that it had sent Iran a nuclear deal proposal. The news follows a recently leaked UN watchdog report that found Iran had conducted secret uranium enrichment activities in three previously undisclosed facilities, and has the capability to construct a nuclear bomb in months.