The Russian military says it has test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, as tension continues over Ukraine's Crimea region.
A Topol RS-12M missile was launched from Russia's Kapustin Yar test range near the Caspian Sea to the Sary Shagan range in Kazakhstan, it said.
It comes after the US accused Russia of an "act of aggression" in Crimea.
The US said it was given advance notice of the missile launch, as required by bilateral arms treaties.
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It is what the international community fears most: a confrontation that spills out of control and leads to war”
Christian Fraser
BBC News, Sevastopol
Resistance proves problem for Russia
"We have been notified of this test earlier this week, it's not unexpected," a defence official told the AFP news agency.
The Topol was fired at 22:10 (18:10 GMT), the defence ministry in Moscow said, adding: "The aim of the launch was to test a promising intercontinental ballistic missile payload."
The nuclear-capable missile reached its target successfully, it said.
Tests of the missile, one of Russia's newest, are not unusual but the timing of the launch if confirmed, is likely to alarm observers of the crisis with Ukraine.
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link to www.bbc.co.uk]