Putin holds nuclear forces drill: launches Yars and Sineva missiles

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has conducted a training exercise of the country's strategic nuclear forces involving cruise missiles and ballistic missiles Yars and Sineva.

Source: Russian media outlet Interfax, citing a Kremlin statement

Details: Before the exercise began, Putin stressed that it was a "scheduled training".

The Kremlin released a video showing him giving instructions to Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and Chief of Russia's General Staff Valery Gerasimov via call.

The statement said the drills involved land-based, naval and air components.

Quote: "An intercontinental ballistic missile Yars was launched from vcbthe Plesetsk Сosmodrome towards the Kura Missile Test Range in Kamchatka. A Sineva ballistic missile was launched from the Barents Sea by the strategic nuclear-powered submarine Bryansk. Long-range Tu-95MS aircraft were also involved, performing launches of air-based cruise missiles.

The exercise tested the readiness of military command bodies and the operational staff's practical skills in managing subordinate forces."

The Russian Defence Ministry also released a video showing the launch of the Yars missile.

For reference: The Yars, or RS-24, is a strategic system based on a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. It entered service with Russia in 2009.

The system is equipped with a multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle containing between three and six warheads, depending on the modification, each capable of striking a separate target.

The missile's flight speed reportedly reaches up to Mach 14, and its explosive power is equivalent to one million tonnes of TNT. Russian propagandists claim that no missile defence system can intercept it and that a single Yars warhead could completely destroy a town.

Background:

• In May 2025, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine warned that Russia planned to carry out a demonstrative training and combat launch of an RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile on the night of 18-19 May.
• However, according to Defense Express, Russia did not launch the missile at that time.

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