Welp. I hate it when this happens.

#BREAKING: "Locals in the Russian city of Severodvinsk have been told to take iodine tablets and stay indoor after massive explosion ays ago. Residents only told an 'incident' took place" – @lentaruofficialhttps://t.co/ckjV8TUtyB https://t.co/RJADJFpZhS — Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) August 8, 2019

This “secret” base in a national park is where Putin keeps his supersonic nuclear missiles. Today, one of those missiles blew up which lead to a spike in background radiation. Russia has closed shipping in the area and evacuated some residents. #Severodvinsk #Russia pic.twitter.com/255wYTLGgJ — Honey Bae (@BSeeprs85) August 8, 2019

Russian media speculates that Severodvinsk explosion happened during tests of Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile near Nyonoksa—a test site for rocket-powered ballistic missiles. Authorities acknowledged an increase in ambient radiation after the accident.https://t.co/f0BcitZYzC — Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) August 8, 2019

"The ministry said there was no release of radioactivity or any toxic substances, but the local administration in Severodvinsk about 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) east from Nyonoksa reported a brief increase in radiation levels."https://t.co/bFskdARBm1 — Emily (@emilystorms) August 8, 2019

Missile Explosion Prompts Radiation Warnings in #Russia:

Greenpeace, citing data from Russia’s Emergencies Ministry, revealed that radiation levels in Severodvinsk briefly reached 20 times normal levels. Greenpeace called on the Russian gov’t to explain. https://t.co/IrmD0O01OC — Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) August 9, 2019

Kommersant: Russian Ministry of Defense classified details of the disaster at northern training area. Naval source says possibility of extremely toxic chemicals in the water, hence the closing of Dvina Bay #Severodvinsk #Arkhangelsk https://t.co/MZrfZ0ajRm — Aki Heikkinen (@akihheikkinen) August 8, 2019

Here are some thoughts on this.

If the Russian government is admitting it happened at this level, the actual level of the danger is exponentially higher.

Taking iodine does diddly for radiation exposure per se. Nothing does anything for radiation exposure. But a placebo is great for population management. During the Yom Kippur War, the Israelis captured Egyptian vehicles with USSR issued “anti-radiation pills.” They were essentially Dramamine and other substances that would block the symptoms of radiation poisoning right up until death.

This kind of slipshod management of conventional, chemical, and nuclear weapons is pretty much the day-in-day-out standard in Russia as it was in the USSR.

The explosion took place at a high priority base of the Russian Navy. This is going to impact readiness, though perhaps not so much as alcoholism, nepotism, and general incompetence.

Oh, yeah. Thoughts and prayers, tovarishchi.

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