On May 12, Russian Strategic Missile Forces Commander Sergey Karakayev reported to President Vladimir Putin the successful testing of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This missile is designed to replace Russia’s current strategic arsenal and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
The Kremlin released a report detailing the missile test, stating that the launch occurred at 11:15 AM local time. Karakayev confirmed that the launch objectives were met. However, the exact timing of the tests remains unclear, as the Russian Ministry of Defense had previously restricted access to the Usty-Kamchatsky area, where the Kura missile range is located, from May 6 to May 10. Typically, such missiles are launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk Oblast, targeting the Kura range in Kamchatka.
During his remarks, Putin noted that work on the Sarmat began in 2011, claiming it to be the most powerful strategic missile system in the world, with a capacity four times greater than any Western equivalent. He stated that the missile has a range exceeding 35,000 kilometers, which is nearly the circumference of the Earth. According to Putin, the Sarmat system is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
Russian officials had previously indicated that the Sarmat would be deployed in 2023, a claim made by Yuri Borisov, head of Roscosmos. However, experts expressed skepticism regarding this timeline, as only one successful test of the missile had been conducted at that point. Several earlier tests reportedly ended in failure, including an incident in 2024 when a missile exploded at the Plesetsk site.
Putin also mentioned ongoing developments with other missile systems, including the Burevestnik and Poseidon, as well as a medium-range missile system called Oreshnik, which could potentially be equipped with a nuclear warhead. The Oreshnik system has been used in strikes against Ukraine on two occasions.
Russia has successfully tested the Sarmat ICBM, a missile intended to enhance its strategic capabilities. President Putin emphasized its advanced features and projected operational readiness by year-end, despite previous skepticism regarding its deployment timeline.