Russia Test Fires Ballistic Missile

Russia said the missile test was successful (file photo).

Russia's military has test fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, as tensions continued over Ukraine's Crimea region.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it launched an RS-12M Topol missile from the Kapustin Yar military site on the evening of March 4.

The ministry said the test was successful and that the missile hit its intended target at the Sary-Shagan military range in Kazakhstan.

Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Yegorov said the test was also needed to determine the missile's ability to evade antimissile defense systems.

Western news agencies cite U.S. officials as saying Russia had notified the United States of the planned test before the current problems in Crimea started.

Based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS