YouTuber Investigating Former Nuclear Bunker Finds Button To 'Destroy The World'

Imagine if you had the power to press the button that would trigger a nuclear strike, knowing the destruction it would cause.

One ordinary citizen almost had that option, although thankfully not quite to that extent.

Drew Scanlon, a gamer, online star and Internet's biggest gif, was exploring a decommissioned nuclear base in Ukraine as part of his online YouTube travel series, Cloth Map.

After a walk down a dark tunnel, through narrow corridors full of pipes, and double-thick doors, the centre revealed some interesting secrets.

Credit: Cloth Map / YouTube

The Ukraine base fell out of use back in 2001, and is now part of a tour operation. The equipment is therefore very well maintained.

In the video below, tour guide Dmytro explains that there would have been enough food, water and medicine in the base to survive up to 45 days after a certain button had been pressed.

As they then enter a control room, the main room, Drew is told by his guide that they are now standing in the 'room to destroy the world'.

Drew takes a seat, is strapped in, and is told that, if this were real, he would get the codes from Moscow ready to activate the nuclear weapons. Two keys would be needed, turned at the same time, to begin the process.

The guide then explains that we are to forget any ideas of a 'big red button', like we see in the movies, instead showing that it's actually a plain grey one - although at one time it certainly could have wiped out humanity on Earth.

Credit: Cloth Map / YouTube

Once the button is pressed, a loud, deep, alarm noise is made - constantly. This is to tell us that it's ready, a green light reveals that the launch has started, while another light, shown later, says that launch is accomplished.

"So now, you can start counting 22 minutes, and you've destroyed Washington DC," the guide says.

Scary stuff. The reality, of course, is that in another room somewhere, similar to the one witnessed, those buttons exist for real. With the turning of a couple of keys, nuclear weapons could be triggered. Well, sweet dreams.

Featured Image Credit: Cloth Map/YouTube

Topics: Entertainment, Interesting, YouTube

Michael Minay

Mike Minay is a trending journalist at LADbible. He’s co-ordinated interviews with some of the big names from the world of news and sport including ITV’s Robert Peston, Sky Sports’ Jeff Stelling and darts champion Michael van Gerwen. His reporting days began on University radio in Birmingham, before moving to BBC Sport Online – creating content for large events such as Wimbledon and the FA Cup final. Mike still commentates on Football League matches at the weekend. A Manchester LAD at heart.

@MikeMinay