Russia readies second Yars nuclear missile by loading in into silo
>
Russia has issued a new nuclear threat to the UK today after loading a second huge missile into a silo near Moscow.
Images released by state media show the Yars rocket, which can carry a nuclear warhead and reach all of Europe and the continental United States, being loaded into the ground at the Kozelsky base, 160 miles south of Moscow.
It comes just a day after more footage showed another missile hitting the same base, and when a retired Russian general told state television viewers that Russia should prioritize attacking London over Washington.
Russian state media have published images of another Yars nuclear missile being loaded in a silo south of Moscow.
The Yars missiles are capable of spanning all of Europe and the continental United States from the Kozelsky base where they are stationed.
‘You do not have to [strike] Washington first, it’s too far away,” Lieutenant General Andrey Gurulev told onlookers. ‘London is next door… London is the main hotbed of all evil.
Vladimir Putin has been intensifying his nuclear saber rattling since he declared war on Ukraine in February, with the West as his main target.
Such threats have dwindled in recent weeks after Beijing told him to call it quits, but are slowly building up again ahead of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces Day on December 17.
The last time Russia showed off its Yars missiles was in October, when Putin oversaw Grom’s annual nuclear exercises.
Submarines, nuclear-capable bombers and Russia’s nuclear missile forces participated in those exercises, watched over by Putin at his nuclear command center.
Colonel Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of Russia’s National Defense magazine, later said the drills were a rehearsal to destroy the United Kingdom and the United States.
Lieutenant General Andrey Gurulev suggested to Russian state media viewers that Russia should consider attacking London with nuclear weapons before attacking Washington DC.
Russia released images of the Yars missile being transported a day after showing another missile being transported to the same site.
A soldier from Russia’s strategic missile forces is seen in state media footage transporting one of the Yars nuclear missiles to his silo.
China, Russia, the US, the UK and France have signed a joint declaration pledging to reduce the spread of nuclear weapons, forcing Beijing to defend plans to expand its arsenal.
Speaking after the latest images of the Yars missile were released, General Gurulev said the West is hell-bent on seeing Ukraine attack Russia.
‘Then why are we ashamed to say we should attack London?’ he asked.
‘I’m not saying we should demolish everyone. We should destroy critical facilities: control centers, military bases, and airfields.
‘I’m sure we should have a catalog at the General Staff and it’s being updated all the time… Is it nuclear…?[or not]?
‘If it’s not nuclear, you have to calculate how many missile carriers, ships, planes, satellite constellations… and long-range ones. [drones] Are needed.
And an attack on London, oddly enough, would be the first and last warning for the [real decision-makers – Washington].’
The Kozelsk missile complex in the Kaluga region is undergoing modernization and renovation, according to reports.
Colonel Alexei Sokolov, speaking after the first Yars missile was moved on Tuesday, said the “complicated technological operations” took a few hours.
Vladimir Putin has been threatening to use his nuclear arsenal since the war in Ukraine began earlier this year, but has toned down the rhetoric after warnings from Beijing.
Moscow carried out a test launch of one of its Yars missiles in October, when propagandists said they were rehearsing for an attack on the UK or US.
He made it clear that the exercise was aimed at sending a message to the West, with the UK and US within range.
“The importance of this operation lies in the fact that the next missile will be put into combat duty on schedule,” he said.
“The motherland will get another nuclear missile weapon, which will make it possible to solve any task at the strategic level.”
Combat engineer Vadim Vyazovsky told TV Zvezda, the Russian Defense Ministry’s own channel: “I am proud of Russia that my country is putting such products into service so that the Motherland can sleep well.”
The Kozelsk missile is undergoing modernization and refurbishment, according to reports.
The Yars is a modification of the Topol-M missile system and was first deployed in 2009. In the October drill, Russia reportedly practiced its response to a Western nuclear attack.
It’s not Russia’s most modern nuclear missile, though: It’s the Sarmat 2, which Putin oversaw a test launch of in April.
Moscow claims the rocket can carry up to 15 nuclear warheads mounted on its new Avangard hypersonic reentry vehicles, which deliver them to their targets.
According to Putin, these vehicles are so fast and highly maneuverable that no current missile defense can stop them.
It has regularly used this fact to threaten other nations, as its war in Ukraine continues to go badly for the Kremlin.
Pictured: Images from Russia show the Yars missile being loaded into a silo on Wednesday.
China, Russia and the US are currently locked in a global arms race amid calls for the trio to negotiate treaties to limit the amount of weapons they can possess.