Putin Hails Test Launch of Russia’s ‘Satan II’ Missile

Russia has test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile as part of its effort to modernise its nuclear arsenal, with President Vladimir Putin describing the weapon as the “most powerful missile in the world”.

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The missile, known as Sarmat and designated “Satan II” by NATO, was launched on Tuesday. Putin said the nuclear-capable system would enter combat service by the end of the year and replace the ageing Soviet-era Voyevoda missile.

The test comes as Moscow continues to upgrade its nuclear forces during the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began when Russian troops launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russia promotes new strategic missile

Speaking about the launch, Putin said the Sarmat missile’s combined warhead power exceeds that of Western equivalents.

“This is the most powerful missile in the world,” he said, claiming the missile’s individually targeted warheads deliver a combined destructive capability more than four times greater than comparable Western systems.

The Sarmat programme began in 2011 and is intended to replace roughly 40 Soviet-built Voyevoda missiles. It is classified as a heavy intercontinental ballistic missile and can carry up to 10 tonnes of payload, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies and its Missile Defense Project.

The missile has a range of more than 21,700 miles (about 35,000 km) and can conduct suborbital flight, a capability Putin said would allow it to bypass potential missile defence systems.

The test follows earlier difficulties during development. Before Tuesday’s launch, only one successful test had been publicly reported, and a 2024 test reportedly ended in a major explosion at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia.

Broader nuclear modernisation

Since taking office in 2000, Putin has overseen a large-scale upgrade of Russia’s nuclear forces, replacing many Soviet-era systems with new technology.

The modernisation programme has included deploying new land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, commissioning nuclear-powered submarines and upgrading long-range strategic bombers.

Russia has also developed a range of other advanced weapons. Among them is the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, which Moscow says can travel at speeds up to 27 times the speed of sound.

Another system is the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, capable of travelling about 3,100 miles. Russia has already used a conventional version of the missile in strikes against Ukraine.

Putin has also said Russia is nearing completion of two additional nuclear weapons: the Poseidon underwater drone and the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile. Poseidon is designed to detonate near coastlines, while Burevestnik is intended to have extremely long range due to its nuclear propulsion.

Nuclear arms control concerns

The missile test comes amid renewed concerns about nuclear arms control following the expiration in February of the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between Russia and the United States.

The agreement had placed limits on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals. Its expiry means there are currently no binding caps on the number of deployed strategic nuclear weapons held by the two countries for the first time in more than 50 years.

According to the Federation of American Scientists, the United States possesses about 4,300 nuclear warheads while Russia has roughly 3,700.

Although the treaty has lapsed, the two countries agreed in February to restore high-level military communication channels that had been suspended shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has said its development of new weapons systems is partly a response to US missile defence systems established after Washington withdrew in 2001 from a Cold War-era treaty limiting missile shields.

Putin said Moscow’s strategic upgrades were necessary to maintain a balance of power.

Ukraine war context

The missile test also came days after Putin suggested that the conflict in Ukraine could be nearing its end.

During a military parade in Moscow’s Red Square marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War, he said the fighting was approaching its conclusion.

The parade was notable for the absence of heavy weapons — a change from previous displays held over the past two decades.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 13 May 2026

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