Russia’s Defence Ministry announced on Friday that it was conducting drills involving Yars mobile nuclear missile launchers. These drills come less than a month after Russia held tactical nuclear weapons deployment exercises alongside its ally, Belarus.
The ministry stated that Yars missile launcher crews in at least two different regions were set to move over 100 kilometers (62 miles) and practice camouflage and deployment techniques. Video footage released by the ministry showed a mobile launcher maneuvering along forest roads and taking up position before troops covered it in camouflage netting.
“Other missile units will hold similar exercises shortly,” the defence ministry said.
In June, Russia conducted tactical nuclear weapons drills with Belarus after what Moscow described as threats from Western powers. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Moscow had no need to use nuclear weapons to secure victory in Ukraine but added that he did not rule out changes to the country’s nuclear doctrine.
