Russia has reportedly been showing off its atomic weapons ahead of the annual Strategic Missiles Forces Day on Dec. 17. Missile force commander Colonel Alexi Sokolov said the latest drill was meant to send a message to the West, since both the US and Europe are within the missile’s range of about 7,500 miles. “The importance of this operation lies in the fact that the missile will be put on combat duty on schedule,” he said.

“The homeland will get another nuclear missile weapon, which will make it possible to solve any tasks at the strategic level.” Putin readies massive nuclear missile capable of hitting US and UK© Provided by New York Post. 

Russian president Vladimir Putin oversaw the test launch of a similar missile in October amid high tensions over the war in Ukraine. The Russian defense ministry said on Wednesday it took several hours for the missile to be installed in the silo using a special transport and loading unit. The Kozelsk missile base is currently undergoing renovations.   The Yars is a modification of the Topol-M missile system, which was first deployed in 2009.   News of the preparations come days after Putin canceled his annual year-end press conference, spurring increased speculation about both his health and the progress of Russia’s 10-month-long invasion of Ukraine.