MOSCOW, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Moscow test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia on Thursday, news agencies reported.

    The Topol RS-12M ballistic missile, designed to defeat anti-ballistic missile systems, has hit a designated target at a testing range on the Kamchatka Peninsula, said Alexander Vovk, head of the Russian Strategic Missile Troops press service.

    "The purpose of the flight was to confirm the stability of the main flight and technical characteristics of the missile, which has been on combat duty for 21 years, and the development of future combat equipment for ground-based ballistic missiles," Vovkwas quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

    The Topol is a solid-fuel, three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a maximum range of 10,000 km. Its initial weight is 45 tons and the weight of the warhead is one ton.

    Russia has repeatedly warned against U.S. plans to deploy a missile shield in Eastern Europe.

    Relations between the two countries deteriorated further after Poland's recent signing of a deal allowing the deployment of U.S. anti-ballistic missile components on its soil, a move Moscow regards a threat to its national security.