Russia Tests Launch of Intercontinental Missiles
An RS-24 Yars missile is launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, Russia, Oct. 29, 2024. X/ @AuerSusan
October 29, 2024 Hour: 12:17 pm
The new Russian nuclear doctrine envisages the possibility of Ukraine using long-range weaponry against Russian territory.
On Tuesday, Russia conducted tests launching intercontinental and cruise ballistic missiles from land, air, and sea as part of its strategic nuclear deterrence exercises.
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Defense Minister Andrei Belousov informed President Vladimir Putin of the successful completion of missions involving “a massive nuclear strike in response to an enemy nuclear attack.”
The strategic forces launched a Yars missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome to the Kura range on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East, covering a distance of around 6,000 kilometers.
Bulava and Sineva intercontinental missiles were launched from the nuclear submarines Kniaz Oleg in the Sea of Okhotsk and Novomoskovsk in the Barents Sea. TU-95MS strategic bombers also launched cruise missiles.
“The missions planned within the strategic deterrence force maneuvers were fully accomplished. All missiles reached their targets,” Belousov stated.
Earlier, Putin had ordered nuclear deterrence force exercises to practice launching ballistic and cruise missiles. “We will drill command actions to control the use of nuclear weapons with ballistic and cruise missile launches,” he said.
“Considering the rise in geopolitical tensions and the emergence of new external threats and risks, it is important to have modern strategic forces that are always ready for combat use,” the Russian leader added.
Putin emphasized that the nuclear triad—intercontinental missiles, nuclear submarines, and strategic aviation—continues to be a “reliable guarantor of our country’s sovereignty and security, enabling us to fulfill strategic deterrence tasks.” However, he assured that although Russia plans to strengthen its nuclear forces with modern weaponry, his country does not intend to get involved in a “new arms race.”
Recently, Putin announced a revision of the his country’s nuclear doctrine following Western considerations of allowing Ukraine to use long-range weaponry against targets within Russian territory. The new doctrine includes the use of nuclear weapons in the event of a conventional attack that threatens the sovereignty of Russia and Belarus.
Currently, negotiations between Russia and the U.S. for a new START treaty are stalled. This treaty, expiring in 2026, is the last strategic arms reduction agreement between the two superpowers.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE