Russia tests intercontinental ballistic missile

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Russian Army conducted a test launch of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) this Friday. The missile was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, located approximately 800 kilometers north of Moscow, and successfully reached its target at the Kura test range on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Pacific Ocean, covering a distance of 6,000 kilometers.

The missile type is linked to the Oreshnik, which the Kremlin has previously deployed in Ukraine. Documented combat uses of the Oreshnik include a strike against the Pivdenmash aerospace plant in Dnipro in November 2024, a strike against infrastructure in Lviv in January 2026, and two additional launches in 2026 targeting the Bila Tserkva area in the Kyiv region.

Parallel to these military developments, reports indicate growing internal discussions within the Kremlin regarding the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons as part of escalation plans. Sources close to President Vladimir Putin suggest that these considerations are being viewed as genuine options within his inner circle, marking a shift from previous rhetorical threats.