The training launch occurred three days after the CIA director's visit to Moscow
The Strategic Rocket Forces of Russia carried out a combat training launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. The tests were successful, confirming the flight characteristics of the solid-fuel vehicle. This was reported by UkrRudProm citing the Telegram channel of RBC, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The Ministry of Defence of Russia reported that the launch aimed to verify the technical specifications of the armament. During the maneuvers, units of the Strategic Rocket Forces also practiced relocating the launch batteries of mobile ground-based missile systems to remote areas.
The warheads successfully struck their targets at the Kura testing range on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Although the specific missile type was not officially disclosed, it was confirmed to be a solid-fuel model capable of traveling distances up to 10,500 kilometers and reaching the United States.
This category of weaponry includes Topol and Yars complexes. According to SIPRI estimates, the Russian arsenal contains 271 of these missiles, forming the backbone of the country’s ground-based strategic nuclear forces. A total of 321 such weapons are currently in service.
These exercises took place shortly after an unannounced visit to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe. According to media reports, the purpose of the American official’s trip was to warn the Russian leadership against escalating conflict with NATO countries and aggressive actions towards Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Illustrative photo: Óðinn / CC BY-SA 3.0
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