An area larger than England has been told to take emergency precautions as Vladimir Putin is gearing up to test an unspecified missile – officials say it will happen between June 6 and 10
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New Russian Satan-2 rocket leaves a massive crater
Tourists and residents in eastern Russia have been warned of an intercontinental ballistic missile test next week.
An area larger than England has been told to take emergency precautions as Vladimir Putin is gearing up to test an unspecified missile.
The last missile Putin tested was his Satan-2 big beast in April.
Further test launches of the hypersonic 208-ton 15,880mph weapon, also known as Sarmat, are due ahead of deployment this year.
Officials in the Kamchatka region warned: “We are announcing the upcoming launch and closing of the fall area for movements of people, equipment of all kinds, aviation flights, and tourist groups.”
The last missile that was tested was the Sarmat in April
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Image:
TV Zvezda/east2west news)
The launch will be between June 6 and 10, according to the announcement.
A statement said: “In the danger zone of the fall of the separating parts of the launch vehicle or its fragments, as well as in the event of an emergency in the field, are the eastern, southeastern part of the Tigilsky district, the southwestern part of the Karaginsky district and the northwestern part of the Ust-Kamchatsky district of the Kamchatka region.”
The missile is targeted at the Kura testing range.
Head of Russian space agency Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin with Vladimir Putin
On April 20, the Satan-2 was launched amid huge rocket flames from an underground silo at Plesetsk military cosmodrome in the north of Russia.
At the time Putin said it would ensure Russia’s security and make “those fierce people who are trying to threaten it” think twice.
There would be “no analogues to this weapon in the world for a long time to come”.
When the Sarmat-2 was tested In April it left a crater in the ground
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Image:
TV Zvezda/east2west news)
Satan-2 – the height of a 14-storey tower block – is due to be deployed later this year, but next week’s test could involve several other missile types.
After the April launch, close Putin ally Dmitry Rogozin – head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos – highlighted the 26ft deep crater made at the Kura test site by the missile without a nuclear warhead.
He said: “With a nuclear charge, such a crater at an enemy site will be…well, very large and very deep – and radioactive.
An intercontinental ballistic missile will be tested next week
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Image:
kremlin.ru/e2w)
“And not just one, but exactly as many as the most powerful nuclear missile in the world will deliver to the territory of a fierce enemy.
“And we will soon have almost 50 such Sarmats [the missile is known in the West as Satan-2] on combat duty.
“It remains only to advise the aggressors to talk more politely with Russia.”
A TV Zvezda presenter stands inside the Sarmat missile body showing its huge size
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Image:
TV Zvezda/east2west news)
Kremlin propagandists in recent weeks have threatened the West with Satan-2, for example suggesting Britain could be sunk under a tidal wave caused by the missile.
Zvezda TV journalist Alexander Kursky said at the Kura military test site on the Kamchatka peninsula: “This crater left by a Sarmat test launch just strikes my imagination.
“No warhead, but the depth is 8 metres (26ft) and diameter 20 metres (66ft).”
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