{
  "id": 18363312,
  "title": "How Novaya Gazeta journalists tried to buy a nuclear warhead in 1990s Russia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/how-novaya-gazeta-journalists-tried-to-buy-a-nuclear-warhead-in-1990s",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T19:32:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/11/05/how-novaya-gazeta-journalists-tried-to-buy-a-nuclear-warhead-in-1990s-russia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In late October, Novaya Gazeta announced its closure. On November 5, World Digital Preservation Day, the complete archive of Novaya Gazeta, including previously unavailable issues, became accessible through RIMA and Kronika. These resources are now available for free and fully searchable. One of the most memorable stories from Novaya Gazeta's history involved the investigation of Russia's black market in nuclear arms. Co-author Kirill Belyaninov, along with Dmitry Muratov and columnist Vladimir Filin, attempted to purchase the components necessary to create a nuclear bomb from Moscow middlemen. Their investigation took place in 1993, where the reporters posed as representatives of a foreign buyer. During the investigation, they were presented with uranium pellets, plutonium plates, and a Soviet SS-20 nuclear warhead. The team felt they had an opportunity to do what they desired without interference from senior officials. The Novaya Gazeta newsroom in its early days was forged out of a conflict with Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russia's largest newspaper at the time. The first editor-in-chief, Vladimir Sungorkin, had won an election and transformed the publication into what it is today. A group of around 60 people, including Muratov, Sergei Kushnerev, and Kozheurov, led the resistance against Sungorkin's appointment. They decided to create Novaya Yezhednevnaya Gazeta, a newspaper that would operate independently of the established media power structures. Initially, Novaya Yezhednevnaya Gazeta was printed in the newsroom bar due to a lack of space. The first issue was given away to passersby in Moscow rather than sold, as the team lacked the necessary distribution channels. The investigation on the nuclear weapons black market was one of the first in Novaya Gazeta's history and was intended to be an example of the outlet's investigative prowess.",
  "summary": "In late October, Novaya Gazeta announced it was closing. On November 5, World Digital Preservation Day, RIMA and Kronika are making the complete Novaya Gazeta archive available, including previously unavailable issues. They are now all collected in one place, free to read and fully searchable. One of the most unforgettable stories the outlet ever ran, back when it was called Novaya Ezhednevnaya…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Vietnam seeks Russia’s help for its nuclear ambition. Will sanctions stall it?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/vietnam-seeks-russias-help-for-its-nuclear-ambition-will-sanctions",
        "published": "2026-11-05T10:59:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}