Russia announces plans to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles.

A Russian ICBM launch in 2022 (Photo: Reuters).

According to Interfax news agency on December 16, Sergei Karakayev, commander of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, said that Russia plans to test-launch seven ICBMs in 2024. He did not provide further details of the plan.

Russia typically notifies the U.S. of ICBM launches at least 24 hours in advance, and Washington does the same when it plans to launch ICBMs. Russia and the U.S. are the two countries with the largest nuclear arsenals in the world .

Last month, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its new nuclear submarine, the Alexander III, had successfully launched a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile was launched from the White Sea, off the northern coast of Russia, and struck a target thousands of kilometers away on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East.

The Bulava missile is 12 meters long, has an estimated range of 8,000 km, and can carry up to six nuclear warheads. This weapon is considered the "cornerstone" of the Russian Navy's nuclear triad.

The latest ballistic missile launch comes amid President Vladimir Putin's declaration that Russia will maintain its nuclear deterrent to counter growing security threats.

Earlier this week, Putin attended the launching ceremony of two nuclear submarines, the Kranoyarsk and the Emperor Alexander III, in the city of Severodvinsk.

At the ceremony, the Kremlin leader pledged to implement the plan to modernize the Russian Navy. He also revealed that these two nuclear submarines would soon be deployed to the Pacific Ocean .

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-thong-bao-ke-hoach-phong-ten-lua-lien-luc-dia-20231216191109138.htm