Stanislav Petrov, a Strategic Rocket Forces lieutenant colonel, was the officer on duty at the Serpukhov-15 bunker near Moscow on September 26, 1983. Petrov's responsibilities included observing the satellite early warning network and notifying his superiors of any impending nuclear missile attack against the Soviet Union. If notification was received from the early-warning systems that inbound missiles had been detected, the Soviet Union's strategy was an immediate nuclear counter-attack against the United States (launch on warning), specified in the doctrine of mutual assured destruction.[1]
At 00:40, the bunker's computers reported that an intercontinental ballistic missile was heading toward the Soviet Union from the US.[3] Petrov considered the detection a computer error, since a United States first-strike nuclear attack would hypothetically involve hundreds of simultaneous missile launches to disable any Soviet means for a counterattack. Furthermore, the satellite system's reliability had been questioned in the past.[4] Petrov dismissed the warning as a false alarm, though accounts of the event differ as to whether he notified his superiors[5] or not[3] after he concluded that the computer detections were false and that no missile had been launched. Later, the computers identified four additional missiles in the air, all directed towards the Soviet Union. Petrov again suspected that the computer system was malfunctioning, despite having no other source of information to confirm his suspicions. The Soviet Union's land radar was incapable of detecting missiles beyond the horizon, and waiting for it to positively identify the threat would limit the Soviet Union's response time to minutes.
Had Petrov reported incoming American missiles, his superiors might have launched an assault against the United States, precipitating a corresponding nuclear response from the United States. Petrov declared the system's indications a false alarm. Later, it was apparent that he was right: no missiles were approaching and the computer detection system was malfunctioning. It was subsequently determined that the false alarms had been created by a rare alignment of sunlight on high-altitude clouds and the satellites' Molniya orbits, an error later corrected with cross-reference to a geostationary satellite.[6]
Petrov later indicated the influences in this decision included: that he had been told a US strike would be all-out, so that five missiles seemed an illogical start; that the launch detection system was new and, in his view, not yet wholly trustworthy; and that ground radars were still failing to pick up any corroborative evidence, even after minutes of delay. [7]
Aftermath
Despite having prevented a potential nuclear disaster by refusing to acknowledge the computer system's warnings, Lt. Col. Petrov stood accused of disobeying his orders and defying military protocol by the manner in which he handled the possible nuclear threat. He later underwent intense questioning by his superiors about his actions during the distressing ordeal, the result of which was that they no longer considered him a reliable military officer.
Col. Petrov's commanders blamed him for the incident in the ensuing inquiry and held him responsible for what had happened.[8] His actions had revealed imperfections in the Soviet early warning system which showed his superiors in a bad light.[5] He was given a reprimand, officially for the improper filing of paperwork, and his once-promising Soviet military career was permanently ruined. He was reassigned to a less sensitive post, took early retirement and suffered a nervous breakdown.[8]
The incident involving Petrov first became known publicly in the 1990s following the publication of memoirs written by Col. Gen. Yury Votintsev, the former commander of the Soviet Air Defense's Missile Defense Units. Widespread media reports since then have increased public awareness of Petrov's actions.
Petrov is now a pensioner, spending his retirement in relative poverty (US $200/month pension) in the town of Fryazino.[9] He has said he does not regard himself as a hero for what he did that day; nevertheless, on May 21, 2004, the San Francisco-based Association of World Citizens gave Colonel Petrov its World Citizen Award along with a trophy and US$1000 in recognition of the part he played in averting a catastrophe.[10]
In January 2006 Petrov traveled to the United States where he was honored in a meeting at the United Nations in New York City. There the Association of World Citizens presented Petrov with a second special World Citizen Award.[11] The following day Petrov met with American journalist Walter Cronkite at his CBS office in New York City. That interview, in addition to other highlights of Petrov’s trip to the United States, will be included in the documentary film The Man Who Saved the World,[10] which is expected to be released in the summer or autumn of 2008.
Anyone wishing to write a letter to Stanislav Petrov — or send a contribution to help him (he is experiencing health problems; see The Moscow News) — can do so through this address:
Stanislav Petrovc/o Association of World Citizens55 New Montgomery Street, Suite 224San Francisco, CA 94105USA
Those choosing to send donations to Stanislav Petrov should make their checks payable to WORLD CITIZENS FOUNDATION. The Association of World Citizens, in cooperation with The Moscow News, promises that all letters and the entire amount of all donations will be forwarded to Stanislav Petrov. More information is available on the Association of World Citizens Web site.
