A CONVOY of Russian Yars missile launchers has been seen travelling 250 miles to Moscow after Sweden was approved to join Nato.
Hungary – the last holdout among the alliance states – approved the “historic” move overnight, dealing a major blow to Russia.
Putin moves his hulking Yars mobile nuclear missile launchers towards MoscowEAST2WEST
Yars missiles are seen mounted on massive truck carriersEAST2WEST
East2WestRussian soldiers stand in front of the fleet which departed from Teykovo[/caption]
AFPVladimir Putin continues to taunt the West with Russia’s nuclear muscle[/caption]
Chilling footage of the hulking complexes heading from Teykovo in Ivanovo region to the capital comes as the war in Ukraine intensifies.
Yars missiles are currently the main element of ground-based attacks by Russia‘s strategic nuclear forces.
The Mach 25 missiles have a range of up to 7,500 miles that would enable a strike on the US.
An orchestra played as the “march” to the Alabino training ground in Moscow set off, ostensibly for President Vladimir Putin‘s annual Victory Day parade in Red Square – not to be held until early May.
Last night, it was revealed Sweden will become the 32nd country to join Nato after Hungary – the final holdout among the allied countries – held a parliamentary vote to approve the move.
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is said to have swayed Sweden away from its decades of military non-alignment and towards joining Nato.
Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said Sweden’s joining of the alliance would make it “stronger and safer”.
The convoy of missile launchers follows Putin, 71, taking a joyride in a supersonic Tu-160M strategic nuclear bomber – in a succession of apparent attempts to taunt the West with Russia’s nuclear muscle.
Former Russian President, now the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev warned Putin could bomb London, Washington, Berlin, and Kyiv if the war requires it to do so.
He said: “Sad as it may sound, this [nuclear war] scenario is real.
“We must do everything we can to prevent it from happening. But this very clock, which is ticking in a certain direction, has now accelerated very much.
“And in this I also see the inability, excuse me, the impotence of these Western authorities. [They] keep saying the same thing: ‘No, it’s the Russians who are scaring us, they will never do it.’
“They’re wrong. If it comes to the existence of our country, and I said this recently, what choice is left for the [Russian] leadership, for the head of state? None.”
Medvedev added: “So this is, unfortunately, a real threat, a direct and clear threat to all of humanity.
“And secondly, there are also accidents, from which no one is immune. And the accidental, unintentional start of a nuclear conflict cannot be discounted.
“So all these games around Ukraine are extremely dangerous.”
The convoy was highlighted by pro-Putin media outlets including REN TV, which belongs to the National Media Group headed by Putin’s 40-year-old lover and former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva.
Reports said the missile launchers were being moved at a snail’s pace along public roads and forest tracks to Alabino in Moscow.
The Victory Day festivities they are claimed to be a part of, to commemorate the defeat of Hitler in 1945, are often used by Putin to show off Russia’s military might.
Group Commander of the Yars missile compound Yuri Malakhov said the “march” of missile launchers would pass through three regions: Ivanovo, Vladimir, then Moscow.
He said: “We make a 400-kilometre [250-mile] march to take part in training, to participate in the Victory Parade.
“In general, it goes well, all times are observed, periodically we do control inspections.
“Mechanic-drivers are doing an excellent job, showing their skills and professionalism.”
APSweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson yesterday said his country was ‘ready to shoulder its responsibility’ in defending Europe[/caption]
East2WestVladimir Putin takes a flight in Russia’s Tu-160M strategic nuclear bomber[/caption]
East2WestA Yars missile is launched in October 2022[/caption]
East2WestThe hulking complexes departed from Teykovo in Ivanovo region[/caption]
Yars missiles are the main element of Russia’s ground-based strategic nuclear forces operationsEast2West
East2WestThe ‘march’ of missile launchers is said to be for Putin’s annual Victory Day parade[/caption]
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