In the midst of tensions in Ukraine, Russia conducts drills with ballistic missiles.

As tensions over Ukraine rise, Russia successfully test-fired its latest hypersonic, cruise, and nuclear-capable ballistic missiles on Saturday as part of "scheduled drills," according to the Kremlin. 

The Kremlin said in a statement that "all the missiles hit their targets, confirming their performance objectives," and that the drills included Tu-95 bombers and submarines.

"The fundamental goal of these exercises is to improve the performance of our strategic offensive forces with the goal of delivering an assured strike against the enemy," said Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff, in televised remarks to Putin.

The drills were witnessed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko from the Kremlin's situation room. 

The strategic manoeuvres, according to Gerasimov, were divided into two stages.

The first was to put "weapons of heightened potential threat" to the test 

"The second entails the sanctioned, massive use of Russian Federation strategic offensive weapons in the event of a retaliatory strike," the general explained.

Russia's Black and North Sea warships, as well as the country's strategic forces, took part in the manoeuvres, according to the Kremlin.

"Ignoring Russia's legitimate rights in this area has a negative impact not only on the European continent, but also on the world," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told France's foreign minister over the phone, according to his ministry.

Russia understood the alliance couldn't meet its demands, including the evacuation of Nato forces from former communist east European governments that have chosen to join Nato, according to Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

According to US-based Maxar Technologies, which uses satellite images to follow developments, new helicopters and a battle group deployment of tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and support equipment have deployed in Russia near the border.