TheEye was rather amused to see the following series of news items sequentially on the Pravda website. You don’t need to read them really as they are mostly propaganda and tractor production statistics.

Just read the titles here…the oldest one is at the top, so feel scared as you read the older ones and then laugh when you get to the one at the bottom which was published today.

Russia modernizes its superpowerful Bulava missile to crush USA’s ABM system (02/16/2007)

Strategic submarine of new generation to be finished soon in Russia (27/03/2007)

Russia builds new nuclear sub equipped with Bulava-M quasi-ballistic missiles (19/04/2007)

All looking good for the Ruskies so far…

Russia to build up-to-date base for nuclear submarines equipped with superpowerful Bulava missiles (10/7/2007)

Russia launches serial production of Bulava missiles to minimize US missile defense efforts (02/12/2008)

…so far, so Cold War…and then today….

Russia’s Bulava missile explodes during decisive test (23/12/2008) Hahahaha

The test launch of the sea-based Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile ended unsuccessfully Tuesday. The self-destructing mechanism of the missile was activated soon after it had been launched from the Dmitry Donskoy nuclear submarine, Interfax reports with reference to a source at the Russian defense industry. The first and the second stages of the missile operated according to a standard procedure, but a malfunction occurred during the operation of the third stage. The missile was given a command to destroy itself. The self-destruction of the Bulava rocket caused no injuries. It was previously reported that Russia’s top military officials viewed this test as a decisive launch. The military administration of the Russian Federation was going to pass the Bulava missile into service to begin a serial production of the complex in case of a successful launch. There were seven launches of the Bulava rocket made before, and four of them ended unsuccessfully, news agencies report.

I reckon a few Comrades may end up in a gulag for this one.