A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile being launched as part of a Strategic Deterrence Forces drill, in Russia’s Arkhangelsk region, 29 October 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE / RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY
Vladimir Putin remotely oversaw the test launch of three intercontinental ballistic missiles by Russia’s Strategic Deterrence Forces on Tuesday before saying in a speech that Russia had no desire to see a new arms race, the Kremlin has announced.
Russia’s Defence Ministry released footage of the Strategic Deterrence Forces training exercises, which included the launch of a Sineva ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea; the launch of a Yars ballistic missile from a test site in Kamchatka; and the launch of a Bulava missile from a nuclear submarine in the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia’s Far East. Several more cruise missiles were launched from a TU-95 MS long-range aircraft, the ministry wrote.
In a video address released by the Kremlin, Putin said that the key to maintaining Russia’s sovereignty was its “nuclear triad”, made up of strategic aviation, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and nuclear submarines. Putin added that due to the “growth of geopolitical tensions, the emergence of new external threats and risks,” it was important to have “modern and permanently ready-to-use strategic forces.”
Putin stressed that while Moscow had no intention of getting “involved in a new arms race”, Russia’s nuclear deterrent would always be maintained for use as an “extreme measure” to ensure Russia’s security.
The missiles were fired as part of a war gaming simulation, in which troops were instructed to respond to a theoretical nuclear strike by the enemy. Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov reported that all missiles launched during the test had successfully reached their targets.
The Russian authorities have made multiple veiled threats against the West since the war in Ukraine began, in many cases appearing to engage in nuclear sabre rattling. In May, Russia’s Defence Ministry announced plans to carry out military exercises using nuclear weapons, while in September Putin proposed an update to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, suggesting that “aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state with the support of a nuclear state” should be deemed grounds for a first Russian nuclear strike.
