Support The Moscow Times!

Kremlin Declines to Comment on Reports of Sarmat ICBM Explosion

An RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile blasts off during a test launch in 2022. Russian Defense Ministry

The Kremlin on Monday said it could not comment on reports of an explosion that allegedly happened during a test of Russia’s next-generation Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile

Satellite images from the Plesetsk test site in the northern Arkhangelsk region showed a large crater, which arms experts believe may be the result of a failed Sarmat test flight or a defueling incident following an aborted launch.

“We have no information on this matter,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, advising them to reach out to military officials.

Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said last September that the Sarmat was operational and ready for combat duty after it was first unveiled by President Vladimir Putin in 2018.

Nicknamed “Satan 2” by Western analysts, the RS-28 Sarmat weighs more than 200 metric tons and can carry multiple nuclear warheads. The missile is designed to evade defense systems by having a short initial boost phase, limiting the time available for surveillance to track it.

Since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin has made veiled nuclear threats to Kyiv’s Western allies, describing the Sarmat and other advanced missiles like the Kinzhal and Avangard as “invincible.”

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more