Explained: Why Russia Fired A Yars Nuclear ICBM Days After CIA Chief Ratcliffe’s Moscow Visit.Russia has successfully launched a mobile ICBM days after CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow amid reportedly tense discussions over Russia and NATO. Although the Defence Ministry did not identify the missile, local reports said it was a Yars ICBM, a key component of Russia’s strategic nuclear arsenal. The launch follows a recent Sarmat test and comes as concerns grow that escalating attacks could increase the risk of a wider confrontation between Russia and NATO.