Putin issues warning to the West after testing mysterious ‘nuclear’ missile

‌Vladimir Putin has tested an experimental nuclear-capable missile to try to send shivers down the spines of Westerners.

Footage shows the mystery intercontinental ballistic launch from the Kapustin Yar test range in Astrakhan region.

‌In an attempt to remain coy and mysterious, the Kremlin refused to disclose the type of missile launched.

But it was carried out as part of a state testing programme of future missile systems.

‌The defence ministry said: ‘The launch objectives were completed in full.’

Residents of Astrakhan, Dagestan and Volgograd regions noticed unusual white traces in the sky.

The launch came late on 12 April – which Russia marks as Cosmonautics Day, commemorating the day in 1961 when Yury Gagarin made the world’s first-ever space flight.

‌A launch on the same day one year ago was believed to be a test of a new version of Putin’s Topol range – known for now as Topol-ME.

‌In an attempt to remain coy and mysterious, the Kremlin refused to disclose the type of missile launched (Credits: MoD Russia/e2w)

The mystery missile in the new launch is not believed to be the Sarmat – or Satan-2 – which appears to be dogged by testing delays.

This is destined to be the largest missile in Putin’s nuclear arsenal, described as an ‘unstoppable’ apocalypse 208-ton intercontinental silo-launched 15,880mph weapon, the size of a 14-storey tower block.

Before properly going into service it is expected to be tested over the South Pole.

It was carried out as part of a state testing programme of future missile systems(Picture: MoD Russia/e2w)

Russian Telegram channel VChK-OGPU reported last month: ‘The Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Plant is experiencing a serious shortage of electronic components….for production of strategic missiles.

‘The electronics of the new RS 28 [Sarmat] missile system are largely of foreign origin and, due to sanctions, [they] are experiencing a serious shortage.

‘Now all efforts are being made to somehow correct the situation with the supply of sanctioned electronics.’

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