Russias defense ministry declared a successful test fire of a Yars intercontinental ballistic nuclear missile on Friday, as reported by the news agency TASS. The Russian defense ministry revealed that the launch took place at the state test cosmodrome Plesetsk, where crews from the Yoshkar-Ola missile formation executed a combat training launch of a mobile-based solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile PGRK Yars, equipped with multiple warheads.The training warheads successfully reached the designated area at the Kura training ground on the Kamchatka Peninsula, according to the ministrys statement.📹The Russian Defence Ministry says it has conducted a successful combat training launch of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the countrys northwest.This comes a day after Putin warned of possible nuclear war if Nato sends troops to Ukraine.#Russia #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/S8sHXAgoU6— SpicyConspiracy (@SpConspiracy) March 1, 2024Why Russia is focuing on missiles devlopmentThe primary objective of the launch was to validate the tactical, technical, and flight characteristics of the modern missile system, stated the defence ministry, confirming the completion of all assigned tasks.The test comes in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putins recent warning concerning increased Western involvement in the Ukraine conflict, raising concerns about the potential for a global nuclear conflict.During a two-hour speech, Putin criticized Western leaders for their recklessness and irresponsibility, highlighting the genuine threat of a nuclear conflict that could result in the destruction of our civilization.Yars missiles supremacyThe Yars missile, known for its lethality, is 23 meters long and is equipped to carry multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). With its MIRV capability, the Yars missile can deliver multiple nuclear warheads, each capable of targeting different objectives. It is a modified version of the Topol-M missile system.Russia began deploying Yars Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) systems in 2009, with the Yars launcher accepted for experimental combat duty in the Strategic Missile Force. In December, Russian rocket forces loaded a new Yars ICBM into a silo at the Kozelsk base in the Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow.Largest arsenal of nuclear weaponsWith approximately 5,889 nuclear warheads, Russia holds the worlds largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, making it the foremost nuclear power. The United States trails closely behind with about 5,244 nuclear warheads. Together, Russia and the United States control over 90 per cent of the worlds nuclear weapons, with approximately 1,670 strategic nuclear warheads deployed by each country.
