Russia flexes its nuclear muscle from Plesetsk

"A combat training launch of a mobile, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile was conducted at the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome. The training warheads arrived at the designated area at the Kura test site on the Kamchatka Peninsula. All assigned tasks were completed in full," the Defence Ministry announced on Telegram.

A video of the launch was published on Friday, although the test itself may have taken place on Thursday, 27 August. NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) covering areas near Plesetsk and in Kamchatka were withdrawn late on Thursday.

The cosmodrome is located in the Arkhangelsk region.

"The purpose of the launch was to confirm the missile system's performance and flight characteristics," the ministry said.

However, the launch may also have served as a form of military signalling — or muscle-flexing — coming just a day after CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Moscow. Neither Russian nor American authorities have publicly disclosed the nature of the meetings. According to CNN, however, the US intelligence chief delivered a warning to Russia against staging an attack on NATO territory, among other issues.

Last weekend, Plesetsk was reportedly targeted by at least two drones, according to the Russian-language edition of the Barents Observer.

The Telegram channel Locator Russia reported that two drones had reached the Plesetsk area. This was supported by another video, first posted by SuperNova_Plus and later reposted by ASTRA, which appeared to show a drone flying low over the region. Temporary flight restrictions were imposed at several airports in the area, including Plesetsk, which serves the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

The impact of one of the drones, captured on video, appeared to occur outside the cosmodrome itself. Regional authorities in Arkhangelsk have since banned residents from posting photos or videos of drones on social media.

Plesetsk was also targeted by drones in April, as previously reported by the Barents Observer.