Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with the commander of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, Colonel General Sergei Karakayev, via videolink at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on May 12, 2026.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the successful test launch of Russia’s new nuclear-capable Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, describing it as the “most powerful missile in the world.”
The launch, carried out by Russia’s strategic missile forces, marks a major step in Moscow’s ongoing effort to modernize its nuclear weapons programme amid rising tensions with the West and the collapse of long-standing arms control agreements with the United States.
Russian state television broadcast footage showing the commander of Russia’s strategic missile forces, Sergei Karakayev, reporting the successful launch directly to President Putin.
According to the Kremlin, the Sarmat missile is expected to officially enter combat service before the end of the year.
Putin claimed the Sarmat possesses a warhead yield more than four times stronger than comparable Western missile systems. He also said the missile is capable of suborbital flight with a range exceeding 35,000 kilometres, allowing it to strike targets across the globe while evading existing and future missile defence systems.
Known in Western countries by the nickname “Satan II,” the Sarmat is designed to replace Russia’s ageing Soviet-era Voyevoda missiles, which formed a critical part of Moscow’s nuclear deterrence strategy during the Cold War.
The development of the missile has faced numerous setbacks since work began in 2011.
Before the latest launch, the Sarmat had only one publicly known successful test, while another test in 2024 reportedly ended in a major explosion. Tuesday’s launch is therefore being presented by Russian authorities as proof that the programme is finally nearing operational readiness.
The missile test comes at a sensitive time for global nuclear security. The expiration of the New START treaty earlier this year has left Russia and the United States without any formal limitations on their nuclear arsenals for the first time in decades.
New START had served as the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between Moscow and Washington, limiting the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems held by both countries.
Although both nations have resumed military dialogue following the treaty’s expiration, negotiations for a replacement agreement have yet to produce meaningful progress.
Washington and Moscow continue to accuse each other of violating previous treaty obligations, further deepening mistrust between the nuclear powers.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that future nuclear agreements should also include China, whose military capabilities are rapidly expanding. However, Beijing has rejected calls to join trilateral nuclear arms talks, insisting that its arsenal remains significantly smaller than those of Russia and the United States.
Since returning to power in 2000, Putin has overseen a sweeping modernization of Russia’s nuclear triad including land-based missiles, strategic submarines, and long-range bombers.
In recent years, Moscow has unveiled several advanced weapons systems, including the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, capable of travelling at speeds up to 27 times the speed of sound. Russia has also introduced the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, which has reportedly been used in conventional strikes during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Putin additionally confirmed that Russia is nearing completion of other next-generation strategic weapons, including the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone and the Burevestnik cruise missile, which is reportedly powered by a miniature nuclear reactor.
Russian officials say the development of these advanced weapons is a direct response to the expansion of the United States missile defence shield, which Moscow believes could undermine Russia’s nuclear deterrent capability.
According to the Kremlin, maintaining strategic balance with the United States remains central to Russia’s defence policy, especially at a time of worsening geopolitical tensions and increasing global military competition.
