UK Chief Of Defense Intelligence Issues Warning That Russia's Skyfall Missile Is A Serious Nuclear Threat

Russia's Skyfall missile would be able to fly around the Earth for years and could launch a nuclear strike at any moment

Daily Mail: Russia's new Skyfall missile will be able to fly around Earth for YEARS and ready to launch nuclear strike at any moment, Britain's defence intelligence chief warns

* Skyfall missile can 'attack from unexpected directions,' says Defence chief
* Accident involving the missile caused radiation spike and left at least five dead
* Russian president Vladimir Putin has called it 'a radically new type of weaponry'

Russia's new Skyfall missile will be able to fly around Earth for years and launch a nuclear strike at any moment, Britain's defence intelligence chief has warned.

The 9M730 Burevestnik missile, also known as Skyfall by Nato, has been linked to the deaths of at least five scientists in an accident in Nyonoksa, north eastern Russia, that caused a radiation spike 'one thousand times higher than lethal,' last August.

Britain's Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt Gen Jim Hockenhull, told a media briefing: 'Moscow is testing a subsonic nuclear-powered cruise missile system which has global reach and would allow attack from unexpected directions'.

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WNU Editor: These warnings from the UK Defense Ministry may be a little bit premature. There have been problems with this missile .... U.S. Intelligence: Mysterious Russian Explosion Was Triggered By Recovery Mission Of Nuclear-Powered Missile, Not A Test (September 1, 2019).

More News On The UK Chief Of Defense Intelligence Issuing A Warning That Russia's Skyfall Missile Is A Serious Nuclear Threat

Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile could 'circle the globe for years' -- The Telegraph
Russia’s Skyfall missile could launch nuke strike at ANY moment as it circles globe for years, Brit spy chief warns -- The SUN
Russian nuclear-powered missile able to orbit earth indefinitely among threats to UK, defence chief warns -- Evening Standard
Skyfall: Russia's Nuclear-powered Missile Could Fly Around The Globe, To Launch By 2025 -- Republic World
UK Chief of Defence Intelligence Warns of Capability of Russia’s Burevestnik Missile -- Sputnik

Russia Outlines New Rules For Using Nuclear Weapons In War

Kremlin.ru

TASS: Putin sets conditions for Russia’s nuclear weapons use

The document stipulates that the guaranteed deterrence of the potential enemy from aggression against Russia and (or) its allies is referred to the highest state priorities

MOSCOW, June 2. /TASS/. Russia will be ready to employ nuclear weapons, if similar or other mass destruction means are used against it or its allies or if it faces non-nuclear aggression that threatens the state’s existence and the possibility to deliver a retaliatory nuclear strike, according to the country’s new doctrine released on Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Tuesday on approving the Fundamentals of the country’s nuclear containment state policy.

As a condition for Russia’s possible employment of nuclear weapons, the document points to the receipt of reliable data on the launch of ballistic missiles attacking the territory of Russia and (or) its allies, and also the enemy’s use of nuclear and other mass destruction weapons against the territory of the country and its allies.

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More News On Russia Outlining New Rules For Using Nuclear Weapons In War

Putin signs Russia’s nuclear deterrent policy -- AP
New Russian policy allows use of atomic weapons against non-nuclear strike -- Defense News/AP
Russian strategic document names strike weapons deployed in space as key military threat: RIA -- Reuters
Russia Releases New Rules for Using Nuclear Weapons in War -- Newsweek

Russia's Nuke-Train System Is 30 Years Old Now

© Sputnik / Alexey Daniche

Sputnik: Nuke Express: Russian Railway-Based Missile That Was Headache for Western Countries Turns 30

Nuclear missiles based on the frame of a regular railway car were an ideological extension of ground-based mobile missile systems, making strategic weaponry more mobile, while also less detectable.

Thirty years ago Soviet Strategic Missile Troops added a new type of weapon to their arsenal, causing serious concern among western states in the last years of the Cold War. The weapon's appearance was deceptive; externally it looked just as any other civilian cargo train, but inside three of its rail cars were hidden RT-23 Molodets ("fine fellow"; NATO reporting name SS-24 Scalpel) strategic missiles, capable of delivering ten nuclear warheads each to distances of up to 10,000 kilometres.

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WNU Editor: For more info go here .... Russia Wanted a Nuclear Missile Train (National Interest).

Russia Shows Off Hypersonic Nuclear Missile to U.S. Inspectors

Russian Ministry Of Defense

Moscow Times: Russia Shows Off Hypersonic Nuclear Missile to U.S. Inspectors

Russia said it has showed its new hypersonic nuclear missile system to U.S. inspectors as part of a bilateral arms control treaty ahead of the missile’s deployment, Interfax reported Tuesday.

President Vladimir Putin said late last year that Russia would be ready to deploy the Avangard missile system in one year’s time. One of several new weapons announced in 2018, the Avangard was touted as a highly maneuverable weapon able to evade the United States’ missile defense systems.

The Defense Ministry staged a demo of the Avangard system to a U.S. inspection group that visited Russia on Nov. 24-26, Interfax reported.

“The Russian side held a demonstration to help ensure the viability and effectiveness of the [New] START Treaty,” the Russian military was quoted as saying, adding that it plans to put Avangard into combat duty before the end of the year.

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Update: Russia shows its latest weapon to US inspectors (AP)

WNU Editor: This system will be deployed later next year.

Russia's Newest Nuclear Submarine Test-Fires Intercontinental Ballistic Missile For The First Time

ABC News Online: Russian nuclear submarine test fires intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time

Russia's most advanced nuclear-powered submarine has test-launched a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time and hit a target thousands of kilometres away, the Defence Ministry says.

The test was carried out on Wednesday (local time) from the Knyaz Vladimir submarine, a Borei 955A-class vessel submerged in the White Sea near Russia's Finnish border.

Carrying a fake payload, the missile hit a test site in Russia's far-east region of Kamchatka near the Bering Sea, according to the ministry.

The submarine is the first upgraded 955A model to be produced in the Borei class of Russian nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.

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More News On Russia's Newest Nuclear Submarine Test-Firing An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile For The First Time

Russian latest nuclear-powered sub test-fires Bulava missile for first time during trials -- TASS
Russian Nuclear Sub Test-Fires New ICBM -- Moscow Times
Russia's Newest Nuclear Submarine Successfully Tests-fires Missile as It Flexes Military Might in the Arctic -- Newsweek
Russia's new submarine test-fires ballistic missile -- DW
Russia test-fires missile from new nuclear-powered submarine -- BBC
Russian Nuclear Submarine Fires Intercontinental Missile For First Time -- RFE
Russian nuclear sub successfully test-launches intercontinental ballistic missile, government claims -- FOX News

Russian President Putin Presides Over Massive Russian Nuclear Drill

© Russian Defense Ministry

RT: Nuclear deterrence ready: Putin presides over mega missile exercise involving submarines, bombers & ground launchers (VIDEOS)

Russia has tested all three components of its nuclear triad, making sure that if the worst comes to pass and its existence is under threat, it would have plenty of ways to respond to foreign aggression.

The simultaneous test of various tactical and strategic nuclear weapons in Russia’s arsenal came as it wraps up a major military exercise called ‘Grom-2019’ (‘Thunder’ in English). It involved some 12,000 troops, hundreds of missile launchers and aircraft, and almost two dozen ships and submarines.

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Update #1: Putin directs exercise of Russian nuclear forces (AP)
Update #2: Russia Sends 12,000 Troops to Arctic as Part of Nuclear War Games (Newsweek)

WNU Editor: This is one of the biggest Russian nuclear drills that I have seen in a long time.

Russian President Putin Warns Of A New Arms Race. Will Develop New Tactical Nuclear Missiles

Reuters: Putin says Russia will make new missiles, warns of arms race

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia would produce missiles that were banned under a landmark Cold-War era nuclear pact that ended last month, but that Moscow would not deploy them unless the United States did so first.

Speaking at an economic forum in Russia’s Far East, Putin said Moscow had urged the United States to de-escalate a spiraling arms race between the former Cold War foes, but that Washington had not responded.

The Russian leader said he was concerned by U.S. talk of deploying missiles in Japan and South Korea, a deployment he said would cover parts of Russian territory.

Tensions over nuclear arms control have been rising after Washington formally pulled out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) pact last month accusing Russia of violating it, allegations Moscow denied.

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WNU Editor: It was Russia's development of medium range missiles that resulted in the end of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

More News On Russian President Putin Warning Of A New Arms Race And The Go-Ahead To Develop New Tactical Nuclear Missiles

Russia will make new missiles that would have been banned under nuclear treaty, Putin says -- CNBC
Vladimir Putin to develop new 'tactical' nuclear missiles after Trump spikes weapons treaty -- Washington Times
Russia to Produce Non-INF Compliant Missiles After Deal Collapse, but Won't Deploy Them First - Putin -- Sputnik
Putin Just Kicked the Nuclear Arms Race Up Another Notch -- VICE News

Russian Advances In Their Nuclear Missile Arsenal Means The U.S. Must Return To MADD As Its Only Deterrent Option

Dov S. Zakheim, The Hill: Putin built a hypersonic arsenal, while the Pentagon slept

In the course of his lengthy annual address to the Russian Federal Assembly this year, President Vladimir Putin excoriated the United States for abandoning the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty while asserting that “the work on promising prototypes and weapon systems that I spoke about in my Address last year continues as scheduled and without disruptions.”

Putin went on to say that Russia had entered serial production of the Avangard hypersonic glide system, which was to be deployed later in 2019. He added that the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which he asserted was “of unprecedented power,” was in the test stage, as was the Peresvet laser missile and air-defense weapon, likewise to be deployed this year. He noted that the Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missile, having undergone operational testing, “proved [its] unique characteristics during test and combat alert missions while the personnel learned how to operate them.” Finally, he asserted that the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile “of unlimited range,” and the Poseidon nuclear-powered unmanned underwater vehicle, were successfully undergoing tests.

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WNU Editor: Bottom line. Russia's nuclear arsenal is as deadly as ever.

Russia Launched Two ICBMs From Nuclear-Powered Submarines In The Arctic Ocean And The Barents Sea On Saturday

CNN: Russia says it launched 2 ballistic missiles in the Arctic Ocean as part of combat training

Russia launched two ballistic missiles from nuclear-powered submarines in the Arctic Ocean and the Barents Sea on Saturday, according to a tweet from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Described as a successful test launch, the missiles were part of combat training, the ministry said. Video of the missiles' launch was also shown in the tweet.

"Nuclear powered submarines Tula and Yuri Dolgoruky launch ballistic missiles Sineva and Bulava from Circumpolar region of the Arctic Ocean and the Barents Sea," the tweet read.

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More News On Saturday's Russian ICBM Test

Russia Test-Launches Submarine-Based Ballistic Missiles Bulava, Sineva -- Sputnik
Russia Test Fires Missiles From Submarines in the Barents Sea -- Moscow Times/Reuters
Russia Test-Fires Ballistic Missiles From Submarines in Barents Sea, Arctic Ocean -- RFE
Russia tests advanced ICBMs by firing them from submarines -- DW

Massive Fire At Russian ICBM Plant

Ракетный завод "Красмаш" горит в Красноярске pic.twitter.com/AIgeA7dm23

— Life | Новости (@lifenews_ru) April 26, 2019

RT: Massive fire engulfs fridge factory at ballistic missile plant in Siberia (VIDEO)

Plumes of thick black smoke rose hundreds of meters into the air as a huge fire broke out at the Krasnoyarsk plant, which makes Sarmat and Sineva ballistic missiles for the Russian military.

Despite the apocalyptic pictures from the site, the Krasmash administration made assurances that the blaze was no threat to missile production facilities. The plant’s employees, together with emergency workers, made sure the premises were secure, it said.

The fire occurred at a refrigerator-making factory, which is also located on the premises. A roof of a warehouse that stores ice-boxes, before they are shipped to customers, collapsed. There were reportedly 5,000 refrigerators inside.

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Update: Massive Fire Rages Out Of Control At Russian ICBM Plant (Zerohedge)

WNU editor: The fire was contained at a section of the plant that manufactured fridges. Is it me .... or is it strange that in the place where they manufacture fridges is also the place where Russia builds its ballistic missiles.

Russia Launches Its 'Doomsday" Submarine

Oleg Kuleshov/TASS

RFE: Russia Launches New Submarine Believed Capable Of Carrying Nuclear-Armed Drones

Russia has launched a special-purpose, nuclear-powered submarine that is believed capable of carrying nuclear-tipped underwater drones that when fully developed could threaten U.S. coastal cities.

The submarine Belgorod was launched on April 23 in the northwestern city of Severodvinsk. Russian President Vladimir Putin watched the proceedings via video link from the Severnaya Shipyard in St. Petersburg.

State-run TASS news agency said development work on the Belgorod will continue and that tests will begin next year with a goal of deploying the vessel by the end of 2020 or early 2021.

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Update: Russia Unveils Sub With 'Nuclear Tsunami' Doomsday Drones (Zero Hedge)

WNU Editor: This Russian sub will be able to carry up to six strategic underwater nuclear-armed drones.

Russia's New Nuclear Missiles Have Some Problems Mixed With Some Successes

Russian Topol inter-continental ballistic missiles are pictured during a rehearsal for the nation's annual May 9 Victory Day parade (file photo from The Daily Mail)

Popular Mechanics: Putin’s New Missiles Are Having Decidedly Mixed Success

A nuclear-powered cruise missile stumbles, but hypersonic weapons should be deployed next year.

We've heard plenty of bombastic claims about new Russian weaponry in the past few years. But U.S. intelligence believes that the development of new arms—many of them nuclear-capable—is experiencing decidedly mixed success.

According to MSNBC, the Avangard and Kinzhal hypersonic weapons could be operational by 2020, but the Buresvestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile won’t be ready for at least a decade. These weapons were announced in May 2018 as part of a package to modernize Russian tactical and strategic nuclear forces.

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Update #1: Vladimir Putin’s so-called missile with unlimited range is too expensive for the Kremlin – and has yet to fly farther than 22 miles (CNBC)
Update #2: Russia apparently can't afford Putin's problematic nuclear-powered cruise missile (Business Insider)

WNU Editor: I have trouble seeing this Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile taking off. It is years behind development, and from what I have read in their main stream media, way over budget.

Are Russian Threats Of New Missiles Aimed At The U.S. Just An Exaggeration?

A MiG-31BM supersonic interceptor equipped with a Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missile.Russian Ministry of Defense/YouTube

Amy Mackinnon, Business Insider/Foreign Policy: Russia's new missiles are aimed at the US, but they may be more bark than bite

* Russia recently singled out potential hypersonic-weapon targets in the US.
* The missiles are concerning because they're not covered by existing treaties and may be able to thwart existing defenses.
* But Russia's boasts about the weapons may be more for domestic consumption.

Normally inured to the fire and brimstone of Russian state TV, international audiences perked up their ears last month when a Sunday evening news show singled out a handful of locations in the United States that could be targets for annihilation by Russia's new hypersonic weapons.

"For now, we're not threatening anyone," said the TV host Dmitry Kiselyov, who some label Russia's chief propagandist. However, Russia worries that the United States, after having withdrawn from an important arms control treaty that regulated missile deployment, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, might again station intermediate-range missiles in Europe. "But if such a deployment takes place, our response will be instant," Kiselyov said.

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WNU Editor: Adding hypersonic nuclear missiles to Russia's nuclear arsenal will not alter the nuclear strategic balance between Russia and the U.S.. This Kremin talk about new weapons is purely for domestic consumption.

Russia's Hypersonic Missiles May Reach U.S. Command Centers In 5 Minutes

© Russian Defense Ministry Press Office/TASS

TASS: Russia's hypersonic missiles may reach US command centers in 5 minutes, says expert

Hypersonic system like Tsircon practically breaks through any missile defense, a Russian admiral said

MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russian military ships and submarines equipped with Tsircon hypersonic missiles will be capable of destroying command centers on the United States territory in five minutes, Retired Counter Admiral Vsevolov Khmyrov told reporters on Thursday.

Khmyrov said that after withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the US will control systems that they may decide to deploy in Europe "from command centers on the territory of the American continent." Russia's Tsircon missiles will not only create a counterweight to missiles deployed in Europe "but will also ensure the capability to strike key control systems - command centers," he added.

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WNU Editor: This is a first strike weapon. And the Russian admiralty wants 4 - 6 vessels with this capability off the east and west coasts of the U.S. ....

.... "The number of military ships and submarines with Tsircon missiles onboard on combat dury in West Atlantic and East Pacific may stand at two-three ships on each direction with about 40 missiled onboard," Khmyrov said.

For more details on this hypersonic missile go here .... Russia again successfully tests ship-based hypersonic missile — which will likely be ready for combat by 2022 (CNBC).

Russian Defense Ministry Releases Video Showing An Underwater 'Field-Test' Of The Poseidon Underwater Nuclear Drone

RT: 1st ever VIDEO of Russian Poseidon underwater nuke drone ‘field-test’ released by MoD

The Russian Defense Ministry has released the first video ever showing an underwater 'field-test' of the Poseidon, a huge robotic nuclear-capable mini-submarine with a miniature nuclear reactor.

The strategic uber-torpedo was hauled inside a transport container, which mimics the storage compartment of an actual submarine playing mothership to the Poseidon. The weapon is then deployed out of the container underwater.

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More News On The Russian Defense Ministry Releasing A Video Showing An Underwater 'Field-Test' Of The Poseidon

Russia's Poseidon Underwater Drone Shown on TV for First Time (VIDEO) -- Sputnik
First submarine carrying unmanned vehicles Poseidon to be launched in spring -- TASS
Russia releases video of its Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone that can be launched from a submarine and carry nuclear warheads hundreds of miles -- Daily Mail
Russia drops first video of Putin's 'Poseidon' doomsday torpedo undergoing testing -- Business Insider
Russia’s new 125mph underwater drone named Poseidon seen in action for first time -- Daily Star

Russia's New Generation Of Nuclear-Capable Weapons

Tony Wesolowsky, RFE: Here's What We Know: Russia's New Generation Of Nuclear-Capable Weapons

In March 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled six nuclear-capable weapons and has said they have no equivalents anywhere in the world.

"Understand that everything I have said today is not a bluff," he said at the time.

And with both the United States and Russia announcing this month that they will withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a new era of missile development could be in the cards.

Putin says the world has nothing like Russia’s newest missiles. Is he right? Here's what we now know, one year later:

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WNU Editor: U.S. intelligence is skeptical about this Russian missile .... U.S. Intelligence: Russia Tried to Con the World With Bogus Missile (Daily Beast).

Russia Claims To Have Tested A Nuclear Powered Cruise Missile (Burevestnik)

Daily Mail: Russia claims to have successfully tested a NUCLEAR-POWERED cruise missile that can fly forever, has an unlimited range and is impossible to shoot down

* The Burevestnik is a nuclear-powered missile which can evade detection
* It is claimed the missile possesses an 'unlimited range' and is extremely agile
* Russia has said it can fly up to ten-times further than any other cruise missile

Russia claims to have successfully tested a nuclear-powered cruise missile - supposedly capable of flying for days on end as it probes weaknesses in Western defence systems.

The Russian state news agency on Friday released a video claiming to show a test of the Burevestnik missile which the Kremlin says is designed to strike over 'unlimited' range and with with unprecedented ability to manoeuvre.

In theory, the Burevestnik could fly forever because it has a nuclear power source, potentially circling the globe until remotely ordered to approach a target and hit it with a nuclear warhead.

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More News On Russia Claiming To Have Tested A Nuclear Powered Cruise Missile

No limits for 'Russian Tomahawks'? What we know about Moscow’s new nuclear cruise missile -- RT
Tests of Burevestnik nuclear powered cruise missile successfully completed, says source -- TASS
Russia Claims It Has Successfully Tested Cruise Missile With Unlimited Range -- Daily Wire
Russia Tests Nuclear Powered Cruise Missile Burevestnik -- Defense World
Russia Carries Out Test of Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile: Reports -- Epoch Times

Russia To Develop New Missile Systems To Counter The U.S. By 2021

RT: Russia must create land-based hypersonic missiles with 500km+ range by 2020 – MoD

In response to the US suspending the INF treaty, Russia is boosting its land-based missile development. Moscow wants hypersonic missiles of 500km+ range and a land-based version of the Kalibr cruise missile, ready by 2020.

According to a plan earlier greenlighted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, existing missiles will be modified, and new ones created, within two years' time.

“Within 2019-2020 we must develop a land-based version of the ship-based Kalibr complex,” Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at a ministry briefing. A land-based longer-range hypersonic missile complex is expected to be created within the same time limit.

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More News On Russia Announcing It Will Develop New Missile Systems To Counter The U.S. By 2021

Defense chief: Russia needs to develop ground-based cruise and hypersonic missiles by 2020 -- TASS
Russia to Develop Ground-Based Kalibr Missiles Amid INF Treaty Row - Minister -- Sputnik
Russia plans new missile systems to counter U.S. by 2021 -- Reuters
INF nuclear treaty: Russia plans new missile systems after pullout -- BBC
Russia must develop new missile systems in response to US withdrawal from treaty, minister says -- FOX News
Putin wants 'supersonic' missile after treaty suspension -- CNN

Kremlin Permits Foreign Military Attaches And The Media To See Its New Nuclear Missile

RT: Russia unveils evidence on missile that US claims violates INF Treaty, Washington snubs briefing

The Russian military presented evidence contrary to the US claim that Moscow possesses a missile which violates the terms of the INF Treaty. The Americans had been invited to the event but apparently were not interested.

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) was signed by the US and the USSR to denuclearize the European continent. The treaty bans ground-based missiles with a range between 500km and 5,500km – plenty of which had been deployed by both sides of the Cold War by the time it was signed. The US is about to scrap it, citing alleged violations by Russia.

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More News On The Kremlin Permitting Foreign Military Attaches And The Media To See Its New Nuclear Missile

Foreign military attaches, media get a look at 9M729 for Iskander-M launchers -- TASS
Russia wheels out key missile in bid to save US arms treaty -- AFP
Russia, in effort to defuse U.S. nuclear dispute, displays new missile -- Reuters
Russia defends new cruise missile that U.S. says violates INF nuclear treaty -- CBS/AP
Russia Shows Off New Cruise Missile and Says It Abides by Landmark Treaty -- The New York Times
Russia Presses Claim In Cold War Missile-Pact Dispute -- RFE
Russia displays new missile US says violates nuclear pact -- The Hill
Russia confirms compliance with INF treaty, rebuking the U.S. -- CGTN
Washington’s demand for eliminating 9M729 missile unacceptable for Russia, says Moscow -- TASS
Russia’s new missile does not violate INF Treaty — top brass -- TASS

Russian Mobile Nuclear Missile In The Backroads Of The Russian Federation

Popular Mechanics: New Video Shows Russia's Mobile ICBMs Tackling the Snow

The video celebrates 59 years of the Strategic Missile Forces.

Russia is a big country, with eleven consecutive time zones and plenty of room to hide things like nuclear missiles. Unlike the United States, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces utilize mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles that traverse the backroads of the Russian Federation, prepared to launch their nuclear-tipped missiles against targets worldwide.

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WNU Editor: That is one big mobile nuclear missile.