Russia has test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile from its newest submarine in a fresh display of its military power.

Video posted by the Russian Defence Ministry shows the Knyaz Vladimir launching the RSM-56 Bulava rocket from under the surface of the White Sea, off the northwest coast of Russia.

The powerful weapon lit up the sky as it travelled across the Arctic to the Kura training ground on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

The Defence Ministry said: "For the first time with the newest strategic missile submarine 'Knyaz Vladimir' of project Borey-A, test fired a sea-based Bulava ballistic missile."

The missile can carry six independently targeted warheads, each quivalent to 150,000 tonnes of TNT – meaning each missile is between 50 and 60 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

'Knyaz Vladimir' joined the Russian Navy in 2017 and is the newest addition to the fleet of the upgraded Borei-class submarines.

It's understood that the submarine is named after 10th century Russian prince Vladimir the Great.

Commander of the Russian Northern Fleet, vice-admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev, told TASS that 'Knyaz Vladimir' is likely to be transferred to the Navy in late December.

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