Russia Tests ICBM in First Launch Since Suspending Nuclear Arms Treaty

Russia said it test-fired what it deemed an “advanced” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Tuesday, April 11, the first known successful launch of such a weapon since pausing its obligations under the last nuclear treaty with the US.

The Russian defense ministry said it successfully fired the ICBM from its test site in Kapustin Yar, and that the training warhead hit a test target in Sary-Shagan, Kazakhstan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 21 this year that Moscow would “suspend” its participation in the landmark New START treaty with the US. The deal, signed between Putin and Barack Obama in 2010, was the last remaining nuclear arms agreement between the two countries after both sides had dialed back their adherence to other mutual pacts.

New START limits the number of deployed nuclear assets and provides for joint monitoring of nuclear arsenals. Both the US and Russia had previously agreed to extend the terms until February 4, 2026.

Putin has since vowed to strengthen Russia’s nuclear and other advanced missile systems.

Washington said in February that it believed Russia had tried and failed to carry out an ICBM test on February 18, days before President Joe Biden’s visit to Ukraine. That test was notified in advance under the terms of the treaty, US media reported.

The defense ministry said on Tuesday that the launch was intended to confirm “the correctness of the circuit design” and other technical aspects used in the development of new strategic missile systems.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Credit: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation via Storyful

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