Russian Military Conducts Mobile ICBM Test

Aug. 28, 2026 Russian Defense Ministry Russia’s Defense Ministry announced Friday that it conducted a successful combat training launch of a mobile, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the northwestern Arkhangelsk region. The Strategic Missile Forces deployed a mobile launcher battery to a remote area before firing the missile across the country to the Kura test site on the Kamchatka Peninsula, located more than 6,700 kilometers (4,160 miles) to the east. Video released by the Defense Ministry showed the missile launch from a forested location. The military said the goal of the launch was to confirm the “tactical, technical and flight characteristics of the missile system.” “All assigned tasks were completed in full,” the ministry said, adding that the ICBM maintained a “flawless trajectory.” It did not identify the missile used in the launch. The Defense Ministry reportedly launched the RS-24 Yars system from Plesetsk to Kura as part of wide-ranging missile forces exercises in mid-May. The latest launch comes less than a week after unverified reports claimed that Ukrainian drones targeted Plesetsk, Russia’s only military spaceport. Read more about: Defense Ministry , Missile Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia to Launch ICBM Sunday as Show of Intimidation, Ukrainian Intelligence says Ukraine’s GUR intelligence agency claimed on Telegram that Russia planned to launch an ICBM as part of a “training and combat” launch Sunday. 1 Min read Russian Military Vows Retaliation After Ukraine Launches New ATACMS Strikes on Kursk Region Russia’s Defense Ministry said the two separate strikes damaged military equipment and injured personnel. 1 Min read Head of Russian Army Theme Park Placed Under House Arrest Vyacheslav Akhmedov was moved from pre-trial detention to house arrest until Dec. 21, state media reported. 2 Min read Russia Will Hold Major Test of Its Strategic Missile Forces The aim of the exercise is to test the readiness of Russia's command structure and how efficiently its orders are carried out.