Marta Gichko11:19, 19.05.25

Analysts stated that there was no launch, as there was no visual confirmation.

Russia has failed to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM) called Yars . No traces of the launch were recorded, writes Defence Express .

It is noted that on the night of May 19, Russia planned to conduct a training and combat launch of the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile. However, the launch never took place.

“The Russian Federation was unable to launch Yars: everything indicates that the launch simply did not happen,” the publication writes.

According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the launch area was atypical – in the Sverdlovsk region, near the settlement of Svobodny, where the 433rd regiment of the 42nd division of the 31st army of the strategic missile forces is stationed. Given the proximity to the city of Nizhny Tagil (only 25 km), any launch should have been captured by local residents. However, no photo or video evidence has appeared.

There are also no recordings from distant regions – a missile aimed at the Kura test site in Kamchatka could have been observed over a large area: from Khanty-Mansiysk to Magadan. But no visual recording was received from there either.

The reasons for the launch cancellation are currently unknown. Experts do not rule out technical problems or the Kremlin’s reluctance to demonstrate weakness in the field of nuclear deterrence ahead of important talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

Problematic launches of the Yars rocket

Recall that in 2023, the Russian Federation has already failed to successfully launch Yars-type missiles twice – the missiles went off course. There is a possibility that this time an emergency situation occurred at the launch stage.

In addition, at the end of September 2024, an RS-28 Sarmat missile exploded in the launch pad at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, further reinforcing doubts about the reliability of Russian strategic weapons.

(C)UNIAN 2025