Russia Conducts Second Round of Nuclear Missile Drills

Russian forces are conducting more drills with Yars mobile nuclear missile launchers in the Volga river basin. The drills, which involve camouflage and deployment practice, follow similar exercises in early July and tactical nuclear weapon exercises with Belarus less than two months ago. Russia continues extensive military training with several countries since invading Ukraine in 2022.

Russian forces are conducting drills involving Yars mobile nuclear missile launchers, Russian media reported on Tuesday, marking the second such exercise in less than a month. Missile launcher crews in the Volga river basin, approximately 700 kilometres (435 miles) east of Moscow, were set to move over 100 kilometres (62 miles) and practice camouflage and deployment, according to the Interfax news agency.

The drills follow similar exercises in early July in at least two different regions and come less than two months after Russia held tactical nuclear weapons deployment exercises alongside ally Belarus. Russia's Kommersant newspaper stated on Tuesday that the systems, equipped with a missile with multiple warheads, can hit targets at a distance of 11,000 kilometers. The systems can also be mounted onto truck carriers or deployed in silos.

Since invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has conducted numerous military exercises on its own or with other countries, including China and South Africa. It has also increased military training with Belarus, which borders both Russia and Ukraine, conducting a series of comprehensive drills.

(With inputs from agencies.)