MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday praised the successful test launch of the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, describing it as "the most powerful missile in the world" and announcing plans to place it on combat duty by the end of 2026. The launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia marked a significant step in Moscow's efforts to modernize its nuclear arsenal amid heightened global tensions and the expiration of key arms control treaties with the United States.

Strategic Missile Forces Commander Col. Gen. Sergei Karakayev reported the successful firing to Putin via video link. The silo-based Sarmat, known in the West as "Satan II," was launched at 11:15 a.m. Moscow time and flew approximately 5,500 kilometers to a test range on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East. All mission objectives were achieved, according to Russian officials.

"This is the most powerful missile system in the world," Putin declared in televised remarks. He emphasized that the combined power of the missile's individually targeted warheads exceeds that of any Western counterpart by more than four times. The Sarmat, weighing around 208 tons and standing 35 meters tall, can carry a payload of up to 10 tons and travel more than 35,000 kilometers — enough to reach targets anywhere on Earth via polar trajectories.

Technical Capabilities and Strategic Importance

The RS-28 Sarmat is designed to replace the aging Soviet-era R-36M2 Voevoda missiles. Russian officials claim it can penetrate all existing and prospective missile defense systems through advanced maneuverability, decoys and........

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