Russia says fires Iskander-M ballistic missile during training exercise

Moscow: The Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday it had successfully fired a ballistic missile from an advanced Iskander-M mobile launch system as part of a training exercise in the country`s Far East.

"The missile successfully hit its targets in one of the polygons in the Amur Region, travelling about 300 kilometres (186 miles)," the ministry said in a statement on social media.

"Thanks to a direct hit, several facilities were destroyed, including a simulated enemy`s command post."

The Iskander, a mobile ballistic missile system codenamed SS-26 Stone by NATO, replaced the Soviet Scud missile. Its two guided missiles have a range of up to 500 kilometres (about 300 miles) and can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads.

The Amur Region is located in Russia`s Far East, in eastern Siberia.