From a top secret #KGB operational assignment to their agent in 1987:
“You are asked to remember this list of the main signs of preparation for a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union as reflected in international shipping.” ⬇️🧵
1. The introduction of military control over the port captain services, pilotage, immigration, customs, sanitary, and other vital services in the ports of Western states.
2. The reactivation [and] recruitment of crews, and the accelerated completion of the repair of transport and passenger ships in the ports of NATO states, [and] their test trials.
3. The concentration of the special loading and unloading equipment in the ports of Western states intended for the processing of heavy loads.
4. The appearance of the significant number of vessels, not performing loading and unloading operations, laid-up (with cargo as well) in the ports of neutral states.
5. The freeing of the significant quantity of warehouse space and premises in the port zones of NATO states, and their guarding by the military.
6. The appearance of the convoys of transport ships on the main traffic lines in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans accompanied by the warships of the United States or other NATO states.
7. The installation of modern weapons systems on civilian ships as well as the tools for decontamination.
8. The increase of the mobile and other technical means for the rapid increase of the loading and unloading operations in the ports of Western states.
9. The intensification of the military controls of the sea traffic in the regions where the emergence of crisis situations is expected.
10. The facts of loading of heavy military equipment, ammunition, explosive materials in the European trading ports, [and] the strengthening of the security parameter of the loading places by the military and the police.
11. The intensification of the activities of the propaganda apparatus of Western states with the aim of creating an atmosphere of chauvinism and anti-Soviet hysteria, [and] the increased use of mass media for this purpose.
12. The intensification of the monitoring of Soviet crews in the foreign ports, including the strengthening of the military and police control of the places of location of Soviet ships.
13. The creation of the special groups of American experts for the fight against ship hijackings and kidnappings (fight against terrorism) in the ports of NATO states which could be used as a cover for taking control over shipping in other countries.
14. The introduction of additional restrictions on the movement of Soviet citizens in and outside the port zones of Western states, [and] making it more difficult for them to communicate (including by telegram and by phone) with Soviet diplomats in these states.
15. Conducting civil defense exercises in NATO states which include maritime transport ships and equipment.
16. Prophylactic vaccinations and the distribution of individual means of protection among the crew members and workers in the ports of Western states.