Russia Conducts ICBM Test; Drills Missile Units

A Russian Topol intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on exhibition

Russia's Defense Ministry says it tested an intercontinental ballistic missile as part of wide-ranging drills involving the country's missile forces.

The ministry said on September 26 that the Topol missile was fired from the Kasputin Yar test range in southern Russia and hit its target at another range in Kazakhstan.

It said the test was aimed at developing new technology to overcome missile defenses.

The ministry also said the country's missile forces had started exercises in Siberia that will include around 4,000 troops and a type of missile launcher known as Yars.

Yars missiles are mounted on heavy trucks, which are more difficult for enemy forces to find and destroy than underground missile silos.

The tests come about a week after Russia conducted its largest military exercises since the Cold War, with tens of thousands of troops deployed in Belarus and near the borders of the three Baltic NATO members.