The Soviet Union's first atomic bomb was detonated on which date?

The Soviet Union's first atomic bomb was detonated on which date?

• A. August 29, 1949
• B. July 16, 1945
• C. September 2, 1949
• D. June 25, 1950

Answer: (A)

The date of the Soviet Union’s first atomic bomb detonation is August 29, 1949. This event, known as RDS-1 or “First Lightning,” took place at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan and marked the USSR’s entry into the nuclear arms race, ending the United States’ earlier monopoly on atomic weapons. The date is distinct from July 16, 1945, which was the United States’ Trinity test—the very first nuclear explosion. The other dates listed don’t correspond to a Soviet test: September 2, 1949 isn’t a recognized Soviet detonation date, and June 25, 1950 is known for the start of the Korean War, not a nuclear test.