Washington had accused the Kremlin of conducting low-level nuclear testing the Defense Intelligence Agency announced on Wednesday. Speaking at an arms control forum at the Hudson Institute, Lieutenant General Robert P Ashley accused Russia of being able to conduct tests that exceed the 1990 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). In a fiery response, head of the Russian State Duma Defense Committee, Vladimir Shamanov, accused Washington of publishing outlandish and incorrect claims.
He also added: “These kinds of statements reveal that the professionalism of the military is systemically falling in America.
“Nuclear tests cannot be carried out secretly.”
Russia ratified the CTBT in 2008, which bans all nuclear explosions for civilian and military purposes.
The US has not ratified the treaty along with China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan.
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Mr Shamanov also added that the US diplomat “could not have made a more irresponsible statement.”
Tensions between the US and Russia have remained tense after both countries withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).
The countries had signed the treaty in 1987 which banned the launch of short to medium-range missiles.
However, both the US and Russia withdrew from the treaty after accusing each other of violating its terms over the last few years.
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US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus once again accused Russia of violating the INF, arguing that the country “routinely” disregarded its international obligations.
She added: “They have been in breach for several years and they have tested, produced, fielded an INF weapon.
“We are certainly alarmed that they continue to disregard their international obligations as it relates to arms.”
Away from the INF treaty, relations between the two countries could intensify as Russia has warned that it could intervene if the US and Iran engage in military conflict.