Putin says Russia tested world’s most powerful nuclear capable missile

Russia has successfully test fired its new nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missile, with President Vladimir Putin describing the Sarmat missile as the “most powerful missile in the world”.

Russian state television on Tuesday broadcast footage of Strategic Missile Forces commander Colonel General Sergei Karakayev reporting the successful launch to Putin during a videoconference meeting at the Kremlin.

Putin announced that the Sarmat missile would officially enter combat service by the end of 2026 and claimed that its warhead capacity was more than four times greater than comparable Western missile systems.

According to Putin, the Sarmat missile is capable of suborbital flight with a range exceeding 35,000 kilometres and can penetrate existing and future missile defence systems.

Known in Western countries as “Satan II”, the Sarmat missile is designed to replace Soviet era Voyevoda missiles that currently form part of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

The missile’s development began in 2011 and has faced several delays and technical setbacks over the years. Before the latest launch, reports suggested that only one previous test had been fully successful, while another test in 2024 reportedly ended in a major explosion.

The latest missile test comes amid growing concerns over global nuclear arms control after the expiration of the New START treaty between Russia and the United States earlier this year.

The treaty had been the final remaining agreement limiting the strategic nuclear arsenals of the world’s two largest nuclear powers.

Putin has accelerated the modernisation of Russia’s nuclear triad in recent years, including the deployment of advanced hypersonic weapons, new nuclear submarines and upgraded long range bombers.

Russia has also introduced new weapons systems including the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, the Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile and the Poseidon underwater nuclear drone.

The Kremlin says these developments are part of Russia’s response to the expansion of US missile defence systems following Washington’s withdrawal from earlier Cold War era arms agreements.