Putin supervises training of Russia's nuclear forces

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin supervised on Wednesday a training of the Russian nuclear forces against a possible nuclear attack on his country, according to a Kremlin statement.

Putin personally led a training of land, sea, and aviation strategic deterrence forces, during which practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles were exercised, the statement said.

The Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Russian spaceport Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome, along with the Sineva ballistic missile -- from the Barents Sea -- at the Kura test site in Russia's Far East Kamchatka region.

The Tu-95MS long-range strategic missile carrier also took part in the training, launching air-based cruise missiles.

Putin also checked the level of readiness of the military administration bodies and the skills of the management and operational staff in organizing the management of troops.

"The tasks set for the training of the strategic deterrence forces have been completed in full, all missiles have reached their targets, confirming the specified characteristics," the statement said.