Update on Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces and the Yars System
Commander of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, Colonel General Sergei Karakaev, announced that a missile regiment in the Bologovsky district of the Tver region has begun a combat duty with the Yars mobile missile system. He conveyed this on the Star TV channel, describing the deployment as a significant step in upgrading the force’s mobile and flexible launch capabilities.
Karakaev stated that the missile regiment in the Tver region’s Bologovsky formation has assumed combat duty with a new Yars mobile unpaved complex. The emphasis was on the system’s mobility and the unit’s readiness to respond to evolving strategic requirements.
On December 15, the Ministry of Defense reported that within two days a second Yars intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, entered combat duty at the Kozelsky missile formation in the Kaluga region. This marks another milestone in the ongoing modernization of Russia’s long-range deterrence forces.
In continued coverage, the British Daily Mail noted that the Yars ICBM is placed into a silo launcher, signaling to Western observers the expansion of Russia’s strategic capabilities. The report highlighted that the United Kingdom is within the range of weapons that Russia possesses, underscoring the global implications of the move.
Karakaev also shared that in November there were successful flight tests of the Sarmat missile system, indicating progress in expanding Russia’s strategic arsenal. He clarified that the Strategic Missile Forces are undergoing active re-equipment with modern missile systems, reflecting a broader modernization effort across the force.
Meanwhile, U.S. defense leadership has discussed similar modernization trends. Pentagon spokespersons have highlighted plans to upgrade the nuclear triad managed by STRATCOM, pointing to sustained focus on advanced missiles, bombers, and dual-capable aircraft to ensure credible deterrence and rapid global reach.