Russian Forces Conduct Yars Missile Launch Drills Amid Rising Tensions

Russian forces are conducting mobile nuclear missile launcher drills, the second such exercise in less than a month. The drills involve missile launcher crews practicing camouflage and deployment in the Volga river basin. Russia has increased military drills, including with allies Belarus, amidst ongoing Ukraine tensions.

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, some 700 kilometres (435 miles) east of Moscow, were set to move over 100 kilometres (62 miles) while practicing camouflage and deployment, according to the Interfax news agency. These exercises follow similar drills in early July in at least two different regions and come less than two months after Russia undertook tactical nuclear weapons deployment exercises alongside ally Belarus.

Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported that the systems, which are equipped with multiple warheads, can hit targets up to 11,000 km away. The systems can either be mounted onto truck carriers or deployed in silos. Since launching its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has held numerous military exercises on its own or with countries like China and South Africa. The nation has also increased its military training with Belarus, which borders both Russia and Ukraine, conducting a series of comprehensive drills.

(With inputs from agencies.)