Russia says it has successfully test-fired a new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) amid rising tensions with the United States over Ukraine

Russia says it has successfully test-fired a new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) amid rising tensions with the United States over Ukraine.

The RS-12M Topol missile was launched on Tuesday at 22:10 Moscow time (1810 GMT) from the Kapustin Yar testing ground in Russia’s southwestern Astrakhan region, some 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of the Ukrainian border, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said.

The simulated warhead successfully hit a specified target at a test range in Kazakhstan, Igor Yegorov stated, adding, “The aim was to test advanced battle equipment for the intercontinental ballistic missiles.”

The Russian Defense Ministry emphasized that Kapustin Yar is “a unique” facility for testing ICBMs.

“Only it provided the test routes and the polygon measuring complex, which allows testing [of] advanced battle equipment capable of bypassing the anti-missile systems, including those with advanced configuration,” the ministry said.

A US defense official said Russia had informed the United States beforehand that it would perform the test launch.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said, "We have been notified of this test earlier this week. It's not unexpected."