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Russia Tests RS-28 Sarmat ICBM, Combat-Ready by Year-End

5/13/2026

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Center

Russia Tests Missile

The RS-28 Sarmat lifted off at 11:15 a.m. Moscow time on Tuesday, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, per a Kremlin commanders’ briefing.
Russia’s RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile was successfully tested, confirming operational readiness and meeting all objectives.
Colonel General Sergei Karakayev said the test met all objectives.
President Vladimir Putin announced combat duty by year-end and regiment at Uzhur, Krasnoyarsk, by end-2026.

Right

Putin Announces Sarmat

President Vladimir Putin declared the Sarmat the world’s most powerful nuclear weapon, touting it as Russia’s premier deterrent.
Russia will field the Sarmat strategic missile by the end of 2026.
Putin said the warhead yields over four times Western missile and can travel beyond 35,000 km.
Western analysts called the claims exaggerated and cited a September 2024 test that left a crater.

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Russia Tests Missile

The RS-28 Sarmat lifted off at 11:15 a.m. Moscow time on Tuesday, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, per a Kremlin commanders’ briefing.
Russia’s RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile was successfully tested, confirming operational readiness and meeting all objectives.
Colonel General Sergei Karakayev said the test met all objectives.
President Vladimir Putin announced combat duty by year-end and regiment at Uzhur, Krasnoyarsk, by end-2026.

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