Molniya (explosive trap)
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Certain buried or otherwise concealed containers used by the KGB to cache items such as shortwave radio receivers and cryptographic materials were booby-trapped with an explosive device known as Molniya ("lightning"). A sequence of specific actions had to be taken in the correct order to render the device safe prior to moving or opening the container, or the device would detonate. This detonation was designed to be highly lethal to anyone in the immediate proximity, as well as being sufficient to destroy all materials in the cache.
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[edit] References
- The Sword and the Shield. Andrew, Christopher and Mitrokhin, Vasili. Basic Books, 1999.
- House Armed Services Committee No. 106-32, "Russian Threat Perceptions and Plans for Sabotage Against the United States", 26OCT1999.
NOTE: Both of the references above include descriptions and the original disarmament instructions for the device, but it must be stressed again that these devices should be considered unexploded ordnance in dangerous condition.
