Russia Test Fired Intercontinental Ballistic Missile: Reports

Russia on Tuesday carried out a successful test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, according to various reports.

Interfax and ITAR-TASS cited the defence ministry as saying a successful test of the RS-12M Topol ICBM had been carried out from Russia's Kapustin Yar rocket launch site near the Caspian Sea at 9:08 pm Moscow time (1708 GMT).

The missile hit its target in the Sary Shagan ballistic missile test range that Russia leases in Kazakhstan, it said.

"The purpose of the launch was to test a prospective warhead of intercontinental ballistic missiles," Interfax quoted defence ministry spokesman Igor Yegorov as saying, without providing further details.

Earlier this month Russia launched several ballistic missions during military exercises overseen by President Vladimir Putin.