The Russians are once again using the US developed European missile shield for their own domestic political reasons:

During campaign season, it never hurts for a presidential candidate facing a frustrated public to display toughness and resolve in the face of an old and familiar adversary. And it also doesn’t hurt to throw in some shock-and-awe–say, a ballistic missile nicknamed “Satan.”

This appears to at least partly explain why on Monday Russia announced that it had successfully tested a short-range interceptor missile; part of its ongoing effort to develop a domestic missile defense system, according to Russia’s RIA News Agency. (The Russian Defense Ministry has provided a video of the missile’s launch on its website.) Russia also announced it is working on the development of a 100-ton ballistic missile slated for release in 2015, Pravda reports. Russia recently held contested parliamentary polls and is due to hold presidential elections in March. Russia watchers note the political backdrop to the announced plans and their part in the wider narrative agenda: resurgent Russia’s determined opposition to American missile defense plans in Eastern Europe.

“In connection with the plans of the United States to develop the air defense system in Europe, in close vicinity to Russia’s borders, and because of the unwillingness of the U.S.  side to provide any guarantees, the Russian Federation continues to take measures to preserve parity in the field,” Pravda reports.

“Russia does not stand against the U.S. missile defense system,” Sergei Karakaev, the Russian Defense Ministry commander of the missile troops, was cited by the paper. “Russia stands against the creation of the missile defense system, which would be directly aimed against Russia to potentially reduce the possibilities of the Russian nuclear containment forces.”  [The Envoy]