MOSCOW: Russia has started exercises with the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system and many thousand troops in what is likely to be seen as another attempt by Moscow to show off its nuclear power.
On Wednesday, Russia’s defence ministry said, “In total, more than 3,000 army personnel and about 300 pieces of equipment are involved in the exercises.”
President of Russia Vladimir Putin aims to make the Yars missile system, which replaced the Topol system, part of Russia’s “invincible arms” and the mainstay of the ground-based component of its nuclear weapons.
During the military exercises, the Yars mobile systems will conduct manoeuvres in three Russian regions, the defence ministry said, without identifying the regions.
The ministry said, “Strategic missile-men will carry out a set of measures to camouflage and counter modern aerial reconnaissance means in cooperation with formations and units of the Central Military District (CMD) and the Aerospace Forces”
ICBM carries multiple nuclear warheads
There are some confirmed tactical and technical characteristics of the Yars mobile intercontinental ballistic missile, which reportedly have an operational range of 12,000 km and can carry multiple nuclear warheads.
According to military bloggers, the systems can carry multiple independently targetable nuclear warheads and can be mounted on truck carriers or deployed in silos.
Since launching its invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Russia has conducted massive military exercises on its own or with other nations, such as China or South Africa.
It has increased military training with Belarus, which borders both Russia and Ukraine, conducting a series of comprehensive drills over the past year.
