A Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system drives in Red Square during a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in central Moscow, Russia May 9, 2023. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
In a display of military activity, Russian rocket forces have successfully positioned a new Yars intercontinental ballistic missile within a silo at the Kozelsk base in the Kaluga region, located southwest of Moscow, as announced by the defense ministry.
The RS-24 (Yars) missile, measuring an imposing 23 meters in length, is engineered to accommodate multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). This sophisticated feature empowers the missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads, each capable of targeting distinct objectives.
The defense ministry shared footage capturing the monumental moment when the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was transported to the silo and meticulously loaded into the shaft. Accompanying the visual spectacle was an intense soundtrack of pounding rock music, underscoring the gravity of the military maneuver.
Russia presently boasts the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, with the United States closely following suit. Together, these two nations command over 90% of the global nuclear arsenal.
The Federation of American Scientists reports that Russia possesses approximately 5,889 nuclear warheads, while the United States maintains around 5,244. Within this count, both nations have deployed roughly 1,670 strategic nuclear warheads each, marking a substantial portion of their formidable arsenals.
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