These images purport to show Russian firing nuclear-capable missiles in military exercises that it said were to train its “strategic deterrence forces”.
The first piece of footage reportedly shows Russian soldiers launching a nuclear-capable ‘Yars’ missile, while the second piece of footage reportedly shows a Tu-95ms long-range strategic missile carrier carrying out its exercise mission, and the third video reportedly shows a Russian submarine firing a Sineva liquid-fuelled ballistic missile.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 26th October, along with a first statement saying that the images show “the launch of a ‘Yars’ intercontinental ballistic missile during the training of the strategic deterrence forces.
A second statement from the Russian MoD said that the second piece of footage shows how “two Tu-95ms long-range strategic missile carriers were involved in the training of the strategic deterrence forces.”
A third statement from the Russian MoD said that the third piece of footage shows “the launch of the Sineva ballistic missile from the Tula strategic submarine of the Northern Fleet during the training of the strategic deterrence forces.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
The Tu-95ms strategic bomber is capable of carrying nuclear missiles, while ‘Yars’ missiles and Sineva ballistic missiles are both nuclear-capable. The Yars is typically a thermonuclear armed intercontinental ballistic missile and the Sineva is a Russian liquid-fuelled submarine-launched ballistic missile.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 245th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 26th October, Russia had lost about 68,900 personnel, 2,628 tanks, 5,351 armoured combat vehicles, 1,686 artillery units, 379 multiple launch rocket systems, 192 air defence systems, 271 warplanes, 248 helicopters, 1,379 drones, 350 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,076 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 149 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
At least 15 Russian missile strikes have killed seven civilians and injured three more people in Donetsk in the last day.
Russia is taking its allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a “dirty bomb” on its own territory to the United Nations Security Council amid concerns from Western and Ukrainian officials that it is a pretext to escalate the war.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that Moscow’s “dirty bomb” allegations were preparation for a “false flag” operation.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has reiterated his pledge to retake the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine.
Britain’s new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has promised President Zelensky that the United Kingdom’s support for Ukraine will be “as strong as ever”.
The European Commission has urged EU firms and countries to give more money and equipment to support the Ukrainian energy sector, over a third of which has been destroyed by Russian strikes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged his government to produce weapons faster to supply Moscow’s forces in Ukraine.
Putin chaired a new committee on Tuesday that is geared towards accelerating the production and delivery of weapons and supplies for the Russian military, stressing the need to “gain higher tempo in all areas”.
