Russia has said that it has carried out a large-scale thermonuclear intercontinental ballistic missile exercise in Siberia involving over 3,000 military personnel and 300 pieces of equipment.
The footage purports to show Yars thermonuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) taking part in the exercise.
A number of them can be seen exiting silos and lined up before they begin manoeuvring.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 29th March, along with a statement claiming: “In the Strategic Missile Forces, a planned command and staff exercise with the Novosibirsk missile formation began.
“In total, more than 3,000 military personnel and about 300 pieces of equipment are involved in the exercise. The commission of the Strategic Missile Forces Command will check the coherence of the actions of military personnel in the performance of tasks.
“During the exercise, it is planned to work out manoeuvring actions by autonomous launch PGRK Yars, which will cover the territories of three regions. Also, strategic missile men will carry out a set of measures to camouflage and counter modern aerial reconnaissance means in cooperation with formations and units of the Central Military District and the Aerospace Forces.
“Particular attention during the exercises will be paid to the use of UAVs of various modifications.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 399th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 29th March 2023, Russia had lost about 172,340 personnel, 3,609 tanks, 6,966 armoured combat vehicles, 2,659 artillery units, 526 multiple launch rocket systems, 277 air defence systems, 306 warplanes, 291 helicopters, 2,239 drones, 911 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,507 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 288 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Vitalii Barabash, the Ukrainian head of the Avdiivka military administration, has said that “more and more of the town is shelled and destroyed daily” and that the frontline town is effectively “being wiped off the face of the Earth”.
Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has said that the situation at Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in south-eastern Ukraine is unsafe and “very dangerous”, adding that military activity in the area had increased.
Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine, has said that Ukraine is aiming to exhaust Russian forces trying to capture the small eastern city of Bakhmut while inflicting heavy losses on them.
The commander added that Russia was continuing to focus on the city and the area around it despite having been unable to take it after months of battle.
The German Ministry of Defence has confirmed that a much-awaited shipment of 18 Leopard 2 main battle tanks has arrived in Ukraine as part of a deal under which European Union countries will contribute tanks to form two battalions.
The United States has promised 31 American-made Abrams tanks.
Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, Oleksii Reznikov, has said that the first British Challenger 2 main battle tanks have also arrived in the country and will soon start carrying out combat missions.
Alexei Moskalyov, a Russian father who was investigated by the police after his daughter Maria, 12, drew a picture showing a Russian plane bombing a family in Ukraine, has reportedly been sentenced to two years in a penal colony.
But Russian officials said on Tuesday that the 54-year-old had fled house arrest, with his whereabouts currently unknown.
The International Olympic Committee has said that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to compete under a neutral flag.
Germany’s Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, said the decision was “a slap in the face for Ukrainian athletes”.
