Once part of the Soviet ballistic missile early warning system (BMEWS) the Svetlogorsk station has been mothballed since June of 1995. The station consists of a single "Steel Yard"-type over-the-horizon radar installation and an attached military base. During Svetlogorsk's years of operation (1976-1995) it provided early warning coverage of the entire North American continent. The closure of this and other BMEWS bases in the former Soviet Union has significantly increased the probability of an accidental launch by the Russian nuclear forces.
