RUSSIA has testfired a nuclear missile just 24 hours after Vladimir Putin made a fiery nuke threat to the West.
Kremlin commanders announced the test firing of a Yars ballistic missile – which can carry nuclear warheads.
Video released by Russian state media showed the 50,000kg, 75ft weapon being fired from a mobile missile launcher.
It came as Putin swung his nuclear sabre during a rambling 2hr 30min “state of the nation” speech.
The 71-year-old tyrant – who looked sickly and unsteady – threatened Nato not to intervene in Ukraine.
He also bragged about his nuclear arsenal – once again warning he would use the devastating weapons if provoked by the West.
Yars missiles – known to Nato forces as SS-29s – can hit speeds of Mach 25 or nearly 20,000mph.
They can be picked with nuclear warheads up to the strength of 500 kilotons.
And that is nearly 30 times of the strength of the bomb dropped by the US on Hiroshima to end World War 2.
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