Putin Orders Preparations for Possible Nuclear Weapons Test

Imagine countries have powerful toys, like really big firecrackers.

Russia hasn't set off its biggest firecracker, a nuclear weapon test, since before it was even the country it is today.

But its leader, Putin, has told his government to get ready to possibly do one.

He said this is because of things the United States has been saying and doing.

Another country, North Korea, did a big test in 2017, but most other countries haven't tested these weapons in a long, long time.

Some people are worried that if one country starts testing again, others might too, like a chain reaction.

This could be bad for the environment, like it was in the past.

Even a former US president said he wants the US to start testing too, but it’s not clear if he means the actual explosions or just practicing with weapons that could carry them.

Russia has recently tested some of its nuclear-powered rockets and torpedoes, but those don't involve an actual nuclear explosion.