Russia’s Nuclear Facilities (packed with Danish products) Exposed Online

A joint investigation by Danwatch and Der Spiegel has uncovered a stunning breach of Russian military secrecy: highly sensitive documents detailing the infrastructure of Russia’s nuclear weapons facilities were publicly accessible online for months.

Over two million procurement documents—retrieved from a Russian government database using advanced digital techniques—reveal the massive, years-long modernization of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces. These upgrades include new bases, underground tunnels, control centers, and sensitive security systems supporting weapons like the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle.

Blueprints show internal layouts, wiring systems, surveillance setups, and even daily routines of personnel—offering what experts call “ultimate intelligence.” The leak exposes critical vulnerabilities in facilities meant to be among the most secure in the world.

This is the most significant exposure of Russian nuclear infrastructure since the Cold War. Despite a 2020 law designed to restrict such disclosures, tenders containing blueprints were still uploaded as recently as summer 2024.

While experts agree the risk of nuclear war remains low, the documents reveal a fundamental shift in Russia’s security posture, with nuclear weapons taking on a larger role amid the erosion of international arms control treaties.

Russia’s Defense Ministry has declined to comment.

A recent investigation by Danwatch and Der Spiegel has revealed that products from Danish companies Danfoss, Grundfos, and Rockwool have been integral to the modernization of two of Russia’s most secretive nuclear weapons bases near Yasny. These bases are equipped with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, a central element in President Putin’s nuclear strategy.  

Blueprints dating back to 2009 indicate the inclusion of Rockwool insulation in at least 23 unique schematics, Danfoss components in five, and references to Grundfos products in several documents. At least 29 tenders suggest the delivery of these products through external distributors, including 110 Grundfos pumps and valves in 2019, and 474 Danfoss valves and thermal elements between 2019 and 2020. Despite EU sanctions, documents reveal requests for Rockwool insulation as recently as April and July 2023, totaling a minimum of 937 meters of pipe insulation and various insulation boards and ceiling panels.

The companies involved have stated that their products were sold through distributors and were intended for civilian use, not military applications. However, experts argue that the use of these products in nuclear weapons bases raises serious ethical and legal questions, suggesting that Danish authorities should investigate the companies’ responsibilities in this context.  

This revelation underscores the complexities of global supply chains and the unintended roles companies may play in geopolitical conflicts.