Russia has claimed that it has tested its ability to deliver a retaliatory nuclear strike in an exercise that it said involved launching missiles by land, sea and air, as these images purport to show.
The first piece of footage reportedly shows a nuclear-capable Yars intercontinental ballistic missile being fired at night and from different angles.
The second piece of footage reportedly shows a Sineva ballistic missile being launched from the Barents Sea, while the third video reportedly shows Tu-95MS long-range aviation aircraft which were also involved in the exercise.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on the evening of Wednesday, 25th October, along with a statement claiming: “Under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, training was conducted with the forces and means of the ground, sea and air components of the nuclear deterrent forces.
“During the training, practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles took place.
“A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk state test cosmodrome at the Kura test site in Kamchatka.
“A Sineva ballistic missile was launched from the Barents Sea from the strategic nuclear-powered missile submarine cruiser Tula.
“Also involved in the training were Tu-95MS long-range aviation aircraft, which launched air-launched cruise missiles.
“The practical launches were controlled from the National Defence Control Centre of the Russian Federation.
“During the events, the level of preparedness of military command and control bodies, the work skills of management and operational personnel in organizing the command and control of subordinate troops (forces) were checked.
“The tasks planned during the training were completed in full.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, also spoke about the exercise on state television.
And Putin oversaw the exercise via video conferencing, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
The exercise came after Russia’s parliament passed a law that withdraws Russia from the nuclear test ban treaty.
The Federation Council, Russia’s upper house, approved the law unanimously after the Duma, the lower house, also passed it unanimously.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 610th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 26th October 2023, Russia had lost about 297,120 personnel, 5,141 tanks, 9,715 armoured combat vehicles, 7,155 artillery units, 834 multiple launch rocket systems, 556 air defence systems, 320 warplanes, 324 helicopters, 5,389 drones, 1,538 cruise missiles, 20 warships, 1 submarine, 9,507 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 1,010 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country is preparing for fresh Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure as the second winter since the full-scale Russian invasion looms.
Zelensky said: “We are preparing for terrorist attacks on our energy infrastructure.”
He added: “This year we will not only defend ourselves, but also respond.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that a drone attack by Russia Ukraine’s Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant temporarily cut power to off-site radiation monitoring stations.
The IAEA’s chief, Rafael Grossi, said: “This incident again underlines the extremely precarious nuclear safety situation in Ukraine.”
Zelensky accused Russia of targeting the power plant, saying: “It is most likely that the target for these drones was the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power station.
“The shockwave from the explosion shattered windows, including on the nuclear power station’s premises.”
Local Ukrainian authorities said that the attack involved 11 Shahed drones and injured 16 people.
Ukrainian officials have said that the Russian forces are continuing their push to capture the eastern city of Avdiivka despite heavy losses.
The Russian military claimed on Wednesday that it had shot down two long-range, American-made ATACMS missiles.
Russian state media said that it was the first time ATACMS missiles had been shot down.
Ukraine has said that it is aiming to increase its domestic production of drones, with the goal being to produce tens of thousands of them every month by the end of the year.
