The Russian Ministry of Defense tested intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military exercise designed to demonstrate the country’s response should it ever come under nuclear attack by its enemies.
Russia’s retaliatory nuclear strike capabilities were displayed in simultaneous missile launches from the test site at Plesetsk Cosmodrome and the Novomoskovsk and Knyaz Oleg submarines.
Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said the purpose of the exercise was to practice “launching a massive nuclear strike in response to a nuclear strike by the enemy”.
The Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome and impacted at the Kura Test Range in the Russian Far East.
“Given the growing geopolitical tensions and the emergence of new external threats and risks, it is important to have modern and constantly ready-to-use strategic forces,” Russian President Vladamir Putin said during a television appearance.
The R-29RMU2 "Sineva" Ballistic Missile, from a Submarine in the Barents Sea.
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) October 30, 2024
All missiles reached their targets. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/tEih0OdW9m
Nuclear capable Tupolev Tu-95s were also involved in the training exercise and launched cruise missiles.
“The tasks envisaged during the training of strategic deterrent forces were completed in full, all missiles reached their targets,” the Ministry of Defense said.
Putin recently warned there would be a major escalation if the US and the UK allowed Ukraine to use long range weapons, such as the Storm Shadow, on Russian soil.
News last week that thousands of North Korean troops had joined the Russian war effort reignited arguments that there should be no limits on Ukraine’s use of arms.