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MOSCOW — The Russian military on Tuesday test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile and also launched drills involving missile units in Siberia.

The Defence Ministry said a Topol ICBM was launched from the Kapustin Yar launch facility in southwestern Russia, and its practice warhead successfully hit a designated target at the Sary-Shagan firing range in Kazakhstan. The ex-Soviet neighbours have close economic and military ties.

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The ministry said the missile test was part of efforts to develop new technologies for piercing missile defences, but gave no specifics.

Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP/Getty Images

Russia long has voiced concern about NATO’s U.S.-led missile defence plans, which it described as a threat to its security, and pledged to deploy weapons capable of penetrating it.

In a separate development, the military also launched large-scale manoeuvrs in Siberia involving the Yars missile launchers along with support vehicles. It said 4,000 troops will be involved.