World War 3 alert: Terrifying moment Russia fires deadly missiles in threat to West

TERRIFYING video shows the moment the Russian military launched an upgraded Kh-35 Uran anti-ship cruise missile system into the ocean in a menacing World War 3 threat to the West.

The Russian Defence Ministry released sabre-rattling footage shot from several angles of the first launch of the Kh-35 Uran anti-ship cruise missile. The images were taken from onboard the modernised Smerch (tornado) fast attack craft. The Zvezda Kh-35 is a Russian turbojet subsonic cruise anti-ship missile.

The deadly weapon's newest incarnation with a rocket booster, an Uran, was unveiled in images broadcast by Russian state media shortly after Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu told a Russian newspaper: "We don’t need aircraft carriers, we need weapons to sink them with."


The terrifying weapon is designed to attack vessels up to 5,000 tonnes.

Tensions between the West and Russia have been on a knife-edge since US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from a nuclear accord known as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). 

READ MORE: Nuclear war warning: Threat remains the ‘biggest risk’ to humanity

World War 3 threat

World War 3 threat: Russia launch the Kh-35 Uran anti-ship cruise missile from aboard the Smerch (Image: RUSSIAN MOD)

Russia news

Russia news: The video was shot was various angles (Image: RUSSIAN MOD)

Tensions are also high in the Middle East as it was revealed on Thursday Russia is to expand its Hmeimim airbase in Syria as conflict rages in the beleaguered region.

Moscow is expanding its military capabilities in Syria and rebuilding a second landing strip to allow the facility to serve more aircraft, Russian news agencies cited an unnamed Defence Ministry official as saying on Thursday.

The ministry has also set up new buildings to house aircraft at the site that will defend against drone attacks, the official was cited as saying.

Thirty fighter planes and helicopters are currently deployed at the base, he added.

The Smerch - or Tornado

The Smerch - or Tornado (Image: RUSSIAN MOD )

Despite the apparent sabre-rattling, Russia's military insist they pose no threat to the West but claim they are committed to defending their nation. 

The man in charge of the Russian Defense Ministry said his military is there to defend his people. 

Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu told a Russian newspaper: "The US spends huge amounts of money on private military contractors, on aircraft carriers. Well, does Russia really need five to ten aircraft carrier strike groups, considering that we do not intend to attack anyone?”

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World War 3 alert

World War 3 alert: Russia fire off missiles in threat (Image: RUSSIAN MOD)

The video of the first launch of the Kh-35 Uran anti-ship cruise missile was posted to Russian state news agency RT's YouTube page, with users quick to offer their thoughts.

One person said: "Respect for mother Russia and president Putin."

Someone else wrote: "And that, comrades, is how you defeat the largest naval military power in the world."

Meanwhile, others were not so positive. 

One user said: "Warmongering!"