The Rocket Forces conducted a successful launch of a Topol/SS-25 missile on December 10, 2009. The launch took place at 15:35 MSK (11:35 UTC) from the Kapustin Yar test site toward the Sary-Shagan test range in Kazakhstan. According to a Rocket Forces representative the launch was conducted as part of the missile service life extension program and to conduct "a test of a combat equipment of intercontinental ballistic missiles".

This would be consistent with the test configuration - the Sary-Shagan tests site hosts a number of radars that could be used to evaluate effectiveness of various missile defense countermeasures. Previous test from Kapustin Yar to Sary-Shagan took place in December 2007.

This test, however, was different from previous launches - it was the first test in 15 years in which Russia had no obligation to openly broadcast telemetric information as required by the START Treaty. From the practical point of view it is not that important - the treaty gave each side a quite generous annual allowance of eleven tests without openly broadcast telemetry - but it is an interesting moment in arms control.

UPDATE 01/06/10: Earlier, in October 2009, the Rocket Forces announced that they will conduct two launches of "experimental RS-12M [i.e. Topol] missiles" from Kapustin Yar by the end of 2009. The second launch apparently was postponed.