Russia starts missile test amid tensions with Ukraine

Russia conducted large-scale strategic military exercises on Saturday that included ballistic missiles as tensions continue on the Ukrainian border rise.

The Kremlin mobilized the Southern Military District forces, the Strategic Missile Troops, and the Northern and Black Sea fleets to conduct military drills, Sputnik Mundo reported.

The Strategic Troops are equipped with intercontinental-range missiles, strategic bombers, submarines, ships, and naval aviation armed with conventional submarine-launched missiles.

These new military exercises were carried out to test the efficiency of Russia's military command and control bodies, as well as the reliability of the weapons of nuclear and non-nuclear strategic forces, Sputnik Mundo added. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw the exercises, calling the new weapons "invincible" and capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

"The planned targets during the strategic deterrence forces exercises were fully met. All missiles hit the set targets," the Russian government said in a statement cited by Swissinfo.

Ukraine’s president travels to Germany

Despite the serious situation on the Ukrainian border, which cost the life of a Ukrainian soldier on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenski traveled to Germany to participate in the Munich Security Conference and receive support from the West.

Zelenski called on Western powers to cease what he described as a policy of "appeasement" towards Russia, who has demanded that NATO not incorporate Ukraine into the treaty.

"Ukraine has received security guarantees for giving up the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world. We have no weapons and no security. But we have a right, the right to demand a change from a policy of appeasement to one that guarantees security and peace," he said at the meeting.

Zelenski added that his country wants peace and that Ukraine would need specific U.S. support for its military.