Moscow is testing the Yars missile system, which can fire nuclear warheads at the United States in an emergency. Kremlin chief looks to show strength as Ukraine attacks Russia’s Melitopol supply hub
In Ukraine, Russian troops are mired in a long and grueling struggle for the city of Bakhmut. And on Wednesday, Ukrainian forces inflicted a – symbolically painful – blow on the Russians. They bombed the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, which Moscow troops have controlled for a year. The city is a major Russian supply hub – going north to Zaporizhia, but south to the Crimean Peninsula.
Missiles could hit the US
In this situation, the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, is now trying to demonstrate strength on the international front: first, Russia’s Pacific Fleet fired Mosquito cruise missiles to attack ships during maneuvers in the Sea of Japan. And on Wednesday Moscow began new military exercises: this time a system will be tested that, in an emergency, would shoot down ICBMs with nuclear warheads – that is, nuclear weapons that would hit the US.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the maneuvers will be carried out with the Yars system. They are ballistic missiles, each capable of carrying three to four nuclear warheads. The missiles have a range of 12,000 kilometers. Rockets can be launched from silos or mobile launch pads.
Exercise with 3,000 Russian soldiers
According to the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, 3,000 Russian soldiers are also taking part in the exercise with the Yars system.
This time, Putin is sending a message directly to the United States. Because ICBMs are designed to attack distant targets. The Kremlin chief sent the message to neighboring Europeans over the weekend, when he announced that tactical nuclear weapons would be transferred to Belarus.
Vladimir Putin (right) with his ally, the ruler of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko APA/AFP/SPUTNIK/VLADIMIR ASTAPKO