According to AFP, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation canceling Russia's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
The 1996 deal prohibited all nuclear explosions, including real-time nuclear weapon testing, but it never went into effect because certain significant nations, notably the United States and China, did not ratify it.
Since the beginning of its war in Ukraine in February last year, the West has accused Russia of deploying dangerous nuclear rhetoric.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin saw ballistic missile drills that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu described as a practice for a "massive" retaliatory nuclear strike on an unidentified adversary.
Putin also stated last month that he is "not ready to say" if Russia will perform real-time nuclear testing.
Under the fast-track mechanism, the measure to annul the pact was passed by the Russian parliament last month.
During the legislative hearings, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stated that the decision to abrogate the pact was made in reaction to the United States' "cynicism" and "crude attitude" regarding nuclear weapons.
Despite the fact that it was never implemented, the pact was accepted by 178 nations, including nuclear powers France and Britain, and has symbolic importance.
Supporters argue that it sets an international norm against testing nuclear weapons in real time, while detractors argue that without the approval of key nuclear states, the deal's promise remains unmet.
The deal was confirmed by the Russian parliament in June 2000, six months after Putin was elected president. /BGNES
