The Ministry of the Russian Federation for Atomic Energy was created by an edict of the President of the Russian Federation ol 28 January 1992. Viktor Nikitovich Mikhaylov became the first Minister of Atomic Energy. The newspapers printed the edict and a brief biography of one of our domestic 'hawks', known only as Professor 'M' up to that time.

    Victor Nikitovich Mikhaylov was born on 12 February 1934 in the rural community of Sopronovo in Moscow Region. He graduated from the Moscow Engineering and Physics Institute and worked in the All-Union Research Institute of Experimental Physics and then in the Research Institute of Pulse Engineering. In March 1992 he became the head of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Atomic Energy. Since December 1992 he has been in charge of research at the Russian Federal Nuclear Centre - the All-Russia Research Institute of Experimental Physics (VNIIEF)

    He is a PhD in engineering, a professor, the author of more than 260 scientific works, a winner of the Lenin and State prizes, and the founder of the school of the physics of explosive nuclear fission and diagnostics of the penetrating radiation of single-pulse processes.

    V. N. Mikhaylov is more than a scientist and statesman. In his book he is primarily a citizen who feels keenly and is greatly disturbed by the distortion of such concepts as the Motherland ond its independence and security, in the minds of his contemporaries. The main idea or focal point of his public statements and of the whole book in general is the idea of the inadmissibility of unilateral moves of Russia in the sphere of nuclear disarmament and the unilateral cessation of nuclear tests. The author makes a passionate appeal to the reason of the Russian people by reminding us of the frightening lesson history taught us at the time of the US monopoly on nuclear weapons during 1945. Every part of this book reflects his conviction that unilateral nuclear disarmament could have disastrous implications for our country, that this would lead us down a dark road on which it would be difficult to guess how many steps - ten or one - separate us from the edge of the abyss.

    Viktor Nikitovich presents logical, conclusive and persuasive arguments and we sincerely hope that his words and his ideas will evoke a response in the minds and hearts of the readers and will convince them that each state is only as strong as its defensive capabilities.

    The editors are grateful to the SOLBY firm for its consistent promotion of multifaceted relations between the United States and Russia, including relations in the area of the nuclear power industry and for its commitment to the publication of this book. We share its conviction that the book will be of considerable interest to researchers of the new Russia's nuclear doctrine, which was elaborated with the direct participation of the author, and to the general reading public in any country, because it will introduce readers not only to the 'chief armourer' of a nuclear power, but also to a brilliant representative of the Russian people - a vital, optimistic and somewhat romantic individual.