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Russia successfully test fires nuclear ballistic missile system

Russian Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missiles drive at Red Square in Moscow on May 7, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

Russia has test launched a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, despite the West’s concerns regarding Moscow’s developing military technology.

The Russian military released an undated video showing the missile, known as RS-12M Topol, ascending into sky at night.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the launch was performed from the Kapustin Yar military firing range in the country’s southern Astrakhan Region.

It said that the test warhead “successfully hit its designated target” some 2,100 kilometers away at the Sary-Shagan range in Kazakhstan.

The strategic missile was test fired previously in September this year, in northwest Russia's Arkhangelsk Region.

Russia showed hypersonic missiles to US inspectors

In another development, Russia said it has demonstrated its new hypersonic nuclear missile for a team of US inspectors on Tuesday.

“A US inspection group was shown the Avangard missile system with the hypersonic boost-glide vehicle on the territory of Russia [between Sunday and Tuesday]," said the Defense Ministry.

The move came as part of a bilateral arms control treaty — The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) — signed between Moscow and Washington back in 2010.

Putin however said earlier the US is "permitting constant, uncontrolled growth of the number of anti-ballistic missiles, improving their quality, and creating new missile launching areas."

"If we do not do something, eventually this will result in the complete devaluation of Russia's nuclear potential," he said, adding that in response, Moscow will be making new models of strategic weapons.

This has provoked concern among member states of the Western military alliance, NATO, whose effectiveness has recently been questioned by its powerful members.

French President, Emmanuel Macron, called for a new ‘strategic relationship’ with Russia shortly before he describes the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as “brain dead.”

He warned the European Union (EU) earlier this month that they could no longer rely on the US to defend NATO allies.

This has prompted NATO leaders to gather in Britain next week to discuss the future of their alliance.

“NATO works to promote stability, security and cooperation in the Western Balkans,” said a NATO official, adding that “any outside interference in domestic democratic processes is unacceptable. We urge Russia to do the same.”

In a recent allegation against Moscow, Serbia said it uncovered evidence of Russian intelligence agencies building contacts with former members of the Serbian military.

Russia, however, denied the allegations, calling them a “provocation.”


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