lieutenant General Sergei Karakayev, commander of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said Friday that Russia plans to launch seven intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in 2024.
In an interview with the Russian newspaper “Red Star,” Karakayev said that over the past five years, Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces have conducted 20 ICBM launches as part of flight tests of new missile systems and training for the Russian Armed Forces.
Karakayev said that Russia and the United States continue to exchange information about planned ICBM launches and submarine-launched ballistic missile launches.
The planned ICBM launches come amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The United States and its allies have imposed severe sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion, and Russia has warned that it will take retaliatory measures.
The launches could also be seen as a way for Russia to demonstrate its military power and deter potential adversaries.
