Russia launches nuclear capable missile in terrifying WW3 escalation | World | News
Russia launched nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles during a training exercise on Wednesday, the Kremlin claimed. The training for strategic nuclear forces, led by Vladimir Putin as Russia‘s commander in chief, also reportedly included air-launched cruise missiles. The Kremlin said the exercise was intended to test the level of readiness of Russia‘s military command bodies in case of an attack.
The launch of the ‘Yars’ ICBM was reportedly carried out from the Russian space port Plesetsk, located in the Arkhangelsk Oblast, and targeted the ‘Kura’ test range in Kamchatka. The ballistic missile ‘Sineva’ was launched from the nuclear-powered submarine cruiser ‘Bryansk’, located in the Barents Sea, the Kremlin also said via state media.
Long-range aviation Tu-95MS aircraft carried out launches of cruise missiles, the Kremlin added.
All training objectives were accomplished, Russia claimed.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, are classified as missiles with a range greater than 3,400 miles, primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery. With such a distance, Russia could easily launch an ICBM from within its borders to reach NATO territory.
President Putin has increasingly used the threat of the Russian nuclear arsenal to pressure the West over its military and diplomatic support for Ukraine following its invasion. As part of this campaign, Russia has placed its weapons on heightened alert, tested and deployed new nuclear capabilities, threatened to resume nuclear testing and suspended participation in a key nuclear arms control treaty with the US.
In March 2023, Russia said it would deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus – the first time it deployed nuclear weapons outside of its borders since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Then, in November 2024, the Russian leader approved an update to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which many experts argue has lowered the threshold for nuclear use.
This latest Russian training exercise comes barely a month after the country held its joint strategic exercise with Belarus, known as Zapad, from September 12 to 16. Belarus said the drills would test the Union State’s defensive readiness, with main activities staged at central training areas near Barysaw, Minsk. Held every four years, this was the first Zapad exercise since Russia‘s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Belarusian officials said the exercise would include training related to nuclear weapons employment and practice involving Russia‘s Oreshnik missile system, which is described as nuclear-capable and slated for delivery to Belarus by late 2025. Indian troops also reportedly took part in the military drills, according to the Russian state agency TASS. The Indian Ministry of Defence confirmed it had sent 65 armed forces personnel to participate.
