Y2K Bug Could Hurt Russia, Ex-Soviet States - U.S

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Y2K Bug Could Hurt Russia, Ex-Soviet States - U.S

Updated 8:11 PM ET September 14, 1999

By Deborah Zabarenko

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia and other former Soviet states could face dark, cold homes, dead phones and the failure of other essential services if the Y2K computer bug hits, the State Department said in a report Friday.

The report on 196 countries and territories, meant to help Americans abroad at the end of 1999 and the beginning of 2000, found Russia "somewhat prepared" for Y2K, Ukraine unprepared, Belarus not prepared, and Latvia working hard but needing improvement.

Even though none of the former Soviet states relies heavily on computerized systems, they depend on them enough to make the Y2K glitch a potential problem, the report found.

"Although Russia continues remediation efforts and contingency planning, at the present time, Y2K disruptions are likely to occur in the key sectors of electrical power, heat, telecommunications, transportation and financial and emergency services," the report from the State Department's bureau of consular affairs said.

In Ukraine, a former home to Soviet nuclear missiles, "there may be a risk of potential disruption in all key sectors, especially the energy and electric services," the report said.

Belarus could face disruptions in electricity and medical services because it relies on imported energy, and Y2K-related problems could hit the countries that supply power to Belarus, the report found.

"Americans who are planning to remain in Belarus should be prepared to withstand power, water and heat outages during cold winter weather that can last several days or more," the report said.

CHERNOBYL-TYPE NUCLEAR PLANTS

Other former Soviet republics, including Kazakhstan, carried only a generic warning about the possible consequences of Y2K.

The so-called Y2K bug could prevent some computers from distinguishing 2000 from 1900 because of old programming shortcuts that recorded the year with the last two digits only. Unless fixed, this could disrupt everything from airlines to health care to telephones.

Russia and former members of the Soviet Union raise special concerns regarding computers because of the 16 Chernobyl-type nuclear power plants located there. The Chernobyl plant in Ukraine was the site of the world's worst nuclear reactor accident in 1986.

While no nuclear power plant catastrophes are expected, a Senate panel dealing with the Y2K problem suggested last week that the computers controlling daily operations could experience problems that could affect safety operations.

On another front, some 2,500 nuclear-tipped missiles remain on hair-trigger alert in Russia. U.S. and Russian officials have agreed to jointly staff a missile command center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to protect against false warnings of missile attacks as the new year dawns, leaders of the Senate Y2K panel said in a statement.

"The greatest Y2K danger comes not from the threat of an accidental launch, but from the threat of Y2K glitches being misinterpreted by personnel on either side of the Atlantic," said Sen. Robert Bennett, a Utah Republican, in announcing Russia's commitment to the project.

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Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), September 14, 1999

Answers

It can't be true. I just saw a report on CNN where the Russians assured us that they would be ready, although they still need another 3 billion dollars.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), September 14, 1999.

nope...can't happen...just watched CNN and Russia's Y2k czar says no way...no problems.

Are you like me? Do you wonder why the US can point fingers at all these less technologically driven countries and say they'll suffer major problems but here at home things will be just fine?

The Russian power grid depends upon over "100,000" to stay online and they say they're not sure but they expect no problems...and they don't "think" there will be any "major safety problems" with their nukes.

Aren't we just a little more dependent on technology here in the U.S.?

Mike

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-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), September 14, 1999.


lol Dog...we must have watched and posted at the same time.

Mike

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-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), September 14, 1999.


Maybe they could get the Italian and Japanese programmers...67% to 100% in a month! Or maybe, they could just get their PR flacks...who probably just write that up...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 14, 1999.

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