Reports: Russian ballistic missile fails in test

Russia's military says an experimental intercontinental ballistic missile has failed during a test launch.

Russian news agencies quoted the military's Space Forces spokesman Col. Alexei Zolotukhin as saying that Tuesday's launch from the northern Plesetsk launch pad was part of testing of a new series of missiles. They said Wednesday that there was no damage or casualties on the ground.

The Defense Ministry didn't immediately comment.

The news reports didn't name the missile's type, but said that it was a development of the Topol-M and the Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles designed by Moscow's Institute for Thermal Technologies. The same maker has designed the Bulava missile for the navy that has experienced numerous failures during its ongoing test program.