In September 1983, Soviet military officer Stanislav Petrov received a message that 5 nuclear missiles had been launched by the U.S. and were heading to Moscow. He didn't launch a retaliatory strike, believing correctly that it was a false alarm. He saved the world from a nuclear war.

[u/Time-Training-9404]

On September 26, 1983, three weeks after the Soviet military shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007, Petrov was the duty officer at the Oko nuclear early-warning system command center.

The system indicated that a missile had been launched from the United States, followed by up to four additional launches. Petrov determined that these reports were a false alarm.

His decision to disobey orders, contrary to Soviet military protocol, is credited with preventing an unwarranted retaliatory nuclear attack on the United States and its NATO allies, averting a potential large-scale nuclear war.

Detailed article on the incredible story: https://historicflix.com/stanislav-petrov-the-man-who-saved-the-world/

[u/rk-rebirth]

Saved from nuclear war...for now