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Putin Part Of Russian Military's Ballistic Missile Tests, Kremlin Says

Russia's military routinely conducts tests and training exercises, similar to the U.S.

By: Katherine Biek

Posted at 2:36 PM, Oct 27, 2017

and last updated 2017-10-27 14:36:57-04

President Vladimir Putin took part in testing Russia's nuclear forces Thursday, according to the Kremlin. It says Putin personally "launched four ballistic missiles."

The Russian Ministry of Defense said the tests were across the region and involved land-, air- and sea-based nuclear forces.

Russia's military routinely has tests and training exercises, similar to the U.S.

The two countries have taken multiple measures to decrease their nuclear arsenals over the past four decades.

The latest agreement — the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START — went live in 2011.

According to the treaty's most recent data, the U.S. has almost 1,400 warheads deployed on 660 intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and strategic bombers. And Russia's arsenal includes about 1,560 warheads deployed on roughly 500 strategic delivery systems.

Russia's has until early February 2018 to get that deployed warhead total down to 1,550.