Russia Holds Test Readiness Of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Unit RS-24 Yars

Russia's RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile. (Wikimedia Commons/Obviously

JAKARTA - Russia is testing the readiness of a unitary combat equipped with an RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile in the northwestern region of Moscow, the news agency quoted a statement from the Ministry of Defense as saying on Friday.

Hospital-24 Yars, which can be placed in silo or mounted on mobile launchers, has a range of up to 11,000 km (6,835 miles) and is capable of carrying several nuclear warheads.

The latest drills took place in the same week as NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) conducts its annual nuclear drills, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled his " winning plans".

In a recent test run, a unit in the Tver region will train moving Yars missiles in the field at a distance of up to 100 km (62 miles) under camouflage and protect it from airstrikes and enemy sabotage groups, Interfax quoted a Defense Ministry statement as saying.

Russia had previously carried out two rounds of exercises involving Yars missile units in July.

Russia has also held three sets of drills this year to test preparations for the launch of a tactical nuclear missile, which has shorter range and lower yields than intercontinental strategic rockets.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month Moscow had expanded a list of scenarios that could prompt it to use nuclear weapons, effectively lowering its usage threshold. Ukraine accuses Moscow of nuclear extortion.

During the war, President Putin often reminded Russia of its largest nuclear arsenal in the world, but he insisted Russia would not need to use nuclear weapons to achieve victory in Ukraine.

Russia is known to have carried out a series of nuclear drills this year that security analysts say are a signal meant to prevent the West from further intervening in the war in Ukraine.