Yars missiles - nuclear scare or reality? Ukrainian expert weighs in on Russia's intimidation strategy
Illustrative photo: Russia fails to launch Yars (Russian media)
The Yars missile is a ballistic intercontinental missile whose main purpose is to deliver a nuclear warhead. But Russia uses it for intimidation, states head of the Reservists’ Council of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ivan Tymochko, in a comment to the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
As the expert explained, it is not very precise in targeting and guidance, since in the case of a nuclear strike, a deviation of 500 meters to 1 kilometer matters, but is minor.
According to him, Russia has about 140 such missiles, but their actual condition is still unknown.
"What they claim is one thing, but how many are ready to launch, how many silos, launchers, and so on — that’s another matter. Including the technical equipment, primarily for putting such a missile into operation. Because even a simple fueling process is extremely complex and lengthy for this type of missile," Tymochko said.
He noted that these missiles are very expensive, with the cost of one missile around 50 million dollars and up. In the expert’s opinion, instead of launching the Yars missiles, it would be more advantageous for Russia to use other missiles.
"It is much more cost-effective for them to launch, say, 10 Kinzhal missiles and fire them at Ukraine. And if we talk about Iskanders, I think there would be about 15-20 of those," the expert said.
Russia and nuclear threats
Tymochko also noted that the likelihood of the Kremlin using nuclear weapons is low.
"Putin is unlikely to agree to or allow himself to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine… Russian propagandists can babble whatever they want, but there is reality."
Speaking about the updated version of the missile, the expert reminded that the updated version of the Yars is considered to be the Oreshnik, which the Russians launched from Kapustin Yar at the end of last year.
"This missile had a strong visual and noise effect, but in the end, as a missile without a warhead, it produced no result," the expert said.
In his opinion, the Kremlin uses such missiles for propaganda and intimidation.
"To escalate the situation. To show Russians the ‘power of Russian weapons.’ It’s mostly an information campaign."
Despite everything, the expert does not rule out possible launches of the Yars missiles but doubts their military effectiveness.
"Strategically, let’s say, such a missile will not have any significant meaning even on the battlefield… Right now, troops are concentrated, equipment is dispersed. And Russia, in essence, is fighting more with infantry on motorcycles than with armored personnel carriers," he said.
According to him, such missiles can be used against civilians, for destruction, information pressure, demonstrating "greatness" to Russians, and intimidating Europe.
"And what can be said about Europeans? When they hear about terrifying missiles and have watched apocalypse movies, of course, it affects them — and very seriously. So, in reality, these missiles are mostly information campaigns," Tymochko emphasized.
Threat of a Yars launch
At the end of March, it became known that the enemy is preparing military exercises involving missiles with nuclear warheads, during which intercontinental ballistic missiles Yars will be used.
Yesterday, on May 18, the Defense Intelligence reported that Russia plans to conduct a training-combat launch of the RS-24 missile.
Today, we reported that the Russian Federation failed to launch the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile.
For more details about its characteristics, read the RBC-Ukraine's Up to 12,000 km of danger: Why Russia's RS-24 Yars missile poses nuclear threat material.
