Journalists from Der Spiegel and Danwatch were able to use proxy servers in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia to circumvent network restrictions and access documents about Russia’s nuclear weapon sites, reports Cybernews.com. The data, including building plans, diagrams, equipment, and other schematics, was publicly accessible in the procurement database, revealing detailed insights into the construction and operation of these facilities.
The investigative team scraped and analyzed over two million documents, uncovering Russian nuclear facilities, including their layout, in great detail. According to the exclusive report by Der Spiegel, the procurement documents expose some of the world’s most secret construction sites, including floor plans and infrastructure details for nuclear weapons silos. Among the leaked materials are construction plans, security system diagrams, and details of wall signage inside the facilities, which include messages like ‘Stop! Turn around! Forbidden zone!’ and ‘The Military Oath.’ The documents also provide insights into power grids, IT systems, alarm configurations, sensor placements, and reinforced structures designed to withstand external threats.
Philipp Ingram, a former colonel in the British Army’s intelligence corps, commented on the significance of the leaked material, stating that ‘Material like this is the ultimate intelligence.’ He emphasized that understanding the intricacies of power distribution, water supply, and system interconnectivity could reveal potential vulnerabilities in Russia’s nuclear defenses. According to the report, Russian defense officials had been making public procurement notices for their construction projects and attaching sensitive documents to these notices, inadvertently exposing critical information about their nuclear installations.