Just showing off: ISW explained why Russia conducted tests of the Yars missile now

On March 1, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the successful test of the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile. This happened against the backdrop of the threats voiced the day before by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia allegedly has weapons capable of striking Western countries.

Moscow continues its nuclear blackmail, but the key goal of it is to intimidate Western countries, and Russia's actual use of nuclear weapons is unlikely. This is the opinion of analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

In a new report, the ISW reminded that on March 1, Russia boasted of a successful live-fire test launch of the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), equipped with a multiple-launch rocket. This was a natural continuation of the Kremlin's tactics of nuclear blackmail and intimidation, though it is unlikely that the Kremlin will move from threats to action.

"Putin emphasized in his address to the Federal Assembly on February 29 that Russia possesses weapons that can strike Western countries. ISW states that the Kremlin often uses nuclear blackmail to instill fear in Western audiences and weaken Western support for Ukraine, and that Russia's use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine and beyond is unlikely," the analysts said.

The Yars strategic complex (RS-24), which is based on a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, entered service with the Russian army in 2009.

It is equipped with a warhead that can be divided, depending on the modification, into 3-4 warheads with a yield of 300-500 kilotons or 6 warheads with a yield of 150 kilotons.

Each of the warheads is said to be capable of hitting a separate target.

The declared flight speed of the missile is up to 14 mach. Targets, according to Russia, can be hit at a distance of 10,000 kilometers. Russian propagandists also claim that no missile defense system is capable of shooting down this missile, and that a Yars missile can completely destroy a small town.

Earlier, ISW explained why Putin spoke about nuclear weapons and dialogue with the United States in his address to the Federal Assembly. The dictator was probably trying to draw attention to himself.

And he succeeded. The day before, on March 1, NATO responded to Russia's constant threats to use nuclear weapons. They consider the Kremlin's talks to be a bluff. NATO officials emphasized that the Russian dictator clearly knows what consequences await Russia if it uses nuclear weapons. Therefore, all his threats are an attempt to intimidate, not real intentions.

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