Russian forces are conducting drills involving Yars mobile nuclear missile launchers, Russian media reported today, in what would be the second such exercise in less than a month. Missile launch vehicle crew in the Volga river basin, some 700 kilometres east of Moscow, were set to move over 100 kilometres and practice camouflage and deployment, the Interfax news agency reported.
The drills follow similar exercises in early July in at least two different regions and are taking place less than two months after Russia held tactical nuclear weapons deployment exercises alongside ally Belarus.
Russia’s Kommersant newspaper reported on Tuesday that the systems, equipped with a missile with multiple warheads, can hit targets at a distance of 11,000 kms. It also reported that the systems can be mounted onto truck carriers or deployed in silos.
The drills follow similar exercises in early July in at least two different regions and are taking place less than two months after Russia held tactical nuclear weapons deployment exercises alongside ally Belarus.
Russia’s Kommersant newspaper reported on Tuesday that the systems, equipped with a missile with multiple warheads, can hit targets at a distance of 11,000 kms. It also reported that the systems can be mounted onto truck carriers or deployed in silos.
China and Russia also held live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea earlier this month, with the two countries having strengthened military and trade ties in recent years following U.S. sanctions on both the countries. The opening ceremony of the Russian-Chinese naval exercise ‘Maritime Cooperation – 2024’ took place in the Chinese port of Zhanjiang, the Russian defence ministry stated.
During their sea manoeuvres, the crews of ships of the Russian Pacific Fleet and the PLA Navy were to conduct joint air defense exercises and anti-submarine drills with the involvement of PLA naval anti-submarine aviation, the Russian defence ministry said. Both countries deployed at least three vessels each for the three-day exercises.
(With inputs from Reuters)
