Overview
- The Kremlin, which announced the launch Tuesday, released Defense Ministry video said to show the nuclear‑capable RS‑28 test as newsrooms noted the footage has not been verified independently.
- President Vladimir Putin called the missile the most powerful in the world and claimed a range of about 35,000 kilometers with payloads heavier than Western systems, though outlets cited experts who doubt those figures.
- Russia says the system will enter service by year’s end, with Strategic Rocket Forces chief Sergei Karakayev cited in reports saying the first regiment is slated for the Krasnoyarsk region.
- The Sarmat program, built to replace Soviet R‑36M missiles and carry multiple nuclear warheads, has faced years of delays and what observers described as a failed test in November 2024.
- Coverage linked the announcement to nuclear signaling after New START’s expiration and during the war in Ukraine, with several publications stressing the lack of outside confirmation and the gap between bold claims and proven performance.