#40: Stanislav Petrov

In the midst of the tense Cold War in 1983, Stanislav Petrov, a relatively obscure Soviet military officer, found himself thrust into a harrowing scenario that would make him a global hero. At a Soviet early-warning radar facility, Petrov suddenly faced an alarming situation: the system erroneously detected incoming American nuclear missiles.

With mere moments to make a decision that could alter the course of history, Petrov chose not to follow the automated warning system’s dire alert. Instead, he trusted his instincts and judgment, deeming the alarm a false one. In doing so, he prevented a potentially catastrophic retaliatory strike, effectively saving the world from the brink of nuclear devastation. However, this decision led to severe ostracisation in the Soviet Union.