Russia launches missiles amid war games, shows off military might

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's Defense Ministry says the military has conducted a series of ballistic and cruise missile launches from various sites across Russia in the latest demonstration of the nation's resurgent military might, the Associated Press reports.

The ministry said Friday, October 30's exercise involved launches from ground sites, sea and air in what appeared to be one of the largest such maneuvers this year.

The war games come as foreign ministers from Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and a dozen of other countries are meeting in Vienna to discuss a Syrian settlement.

The exercise involved the launch of a Kalibr cruise missile from a ship in the Caspian Sea. Earlier this month, Russian navy ships launched 26 such missiles at targets in Syria as part of Moscow's air campaign that began on Sept. 30.