Kinzhal, Tsirkon To Kalibr, Rows Of Land, Sea And Air Missiles Launched By The Russian Military

Russian strategic military exercise. (Twitter/@mod_russia screenshot)

JAKARTA - Russia has held exercises by a strategic missile nuclear force, led directly by President Vladimir Putin, involving several types of missiles amid border tensions with Ukraine.

All the ballistic and cruise missiles launched during the exercise of the Russian strategic deterrence forces, which were held under the direction of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin successfully hit the designated targets, the Kremlin press office reported on its website on Saturday.

"Under the direction of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Vladimir Putin, the launch of the ballistic and cruise missiles was carried out during the scheduled exercises of the strategic deterrence force," the statement said.

The scheduled exercise of Russia's strategic defense forces brings together the strengths and capabilities of the Aerospace Forces, Southern Military District, Strategic Missile Forces, and Northern and Black Sea Fleet.

During a strategic deterrence force exercise, the Russian Air Force successfully launched the Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missile, the Kremlin press office said in a statement.

An illustration of the Russian military test-firing the Tsirkon hypersonic missile from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate. (Source: Russian Ministry of Defense Press Office via TASS)

"Northern and Black Sea Fleet warships and submarines carried out launches of Kalibr cruise missiles and Tsirkon hypersonic missiles against naval and land targets," the statement said.

"At the Kapustin Yar test site in the Astrakhan Region, an Iskander land-based cruise missile was launched," continued the statement released after the exercise was over.

There was also the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launched from the launch site of the Plesetsk spaceport in northern Russia towards the Kura test site on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East.

"Air cruise missiles launched from the Tu-95MS strategic long-range missile-carrying bomber hit targets at the Pemboi and Kura proving grounds. A Sineva ballistic missile was launched by the nuclear-powered strategic submarine of the Karelia Northern Fleet from the Barents Sea towards the Kura evidentiary site," the statement said. that.

Пуск крылатой ракеты «Калибр» с атомной подводной лодки в рамках планового учения сил стратегического сдерживания, проведенного под руководством Верховного Главнокомандующего ВС РФ В.Путина#Минобороны #АрмияРоссии #Учение #Калибр pic.twitter.com/QbH8lKrtxA

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) February 19, 2022

As previously reported, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched drills by a strategic nuclear missile force on Saturday, while Washington said Russian troops converging near the Ukrainian border were "ready to strike".

President Putin sat watching the drills on screen together with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, from what the Kremlin describes as a 'situation control center'.

Russia's move has drawn concerns from the United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. He said the nuclear drills sparked concern among defense leaders around the world, given the Russian military's focus on a massive force build-up around Ukraine.

"When you add a very sophisticated exercise with a strategic nuclear force, it complicates things to the point that you could have an accident or an error," he said.

Пуск гиперзвуковой ракеты «Кинжал» в рамках планового учения сил стратегического сдерживания, проведенного под руководством Верховного Главнокомандующего ВС РФ В.Путина#Минобороны #АрмияРоссии #Учение #Кинжал pic.twitter.com/T06LPyZs3W

— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) February 19, 2022