While the rest of the world is going through a near-global economic crisis fueled by the war between the United States and Iran, alongside the ongoing debate over whether Iran should be allowed to possess missiles, the world is also forced to stand by and watch as North Korea’s Kim Jong-un tests and unveils the “most powerful” missile during the 80th anniversary parade.
Additionally, Russia is also flexing and upgrading its nuclear arsenal. Despite possessing the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, estimated at 5,459 nuclear warheads, with 1,718 deployed, Russia also inherited the Soviet Union’s vast biological and chemical weapons programs.
Following a test of the newly upgraded RS-28 Sarmat, President Vladimir Putin boasted about the“most powerful” RS-28 Sarmat, a nuclear weapon whose range, he said, is “far beyond Western estimates.”
What Is the RS-28 Sarmat Missile?
Russia developed the RS-28 Sarmat missile to replace the Soviet-era Voyevoda missiles. Development of the RS-28 Sarmat began in 2011.
The RS-28 Sarmat, also known as “Satan II” in the West, is a land-based guided intercontinental ballistic missile designed for the delivery of nuclear weapons, with a minimum range of 5,500 km (about 3,400 miles). The missile has a maximum range of more than 35,000 km (21,750 miles), compared to the United States’ intercontinental ballistic missile, the Minuteman III, which has a range of 6,000–8,000+ miles. According to President Putin, the RS-28 Sarmat “could penetrate all existing and future antimissile defence systems”. Despite these claims, Western analysts have estimated an actual maximum range of about 18,000km (11,000 miles).
When Was the RS-28 Sarmat Missile Developed?
The missile was developed in 2011 to replace around 40 Soviet-built Voyevoda missiles. In one of the earlier tests in September 2024, it reportedly ended in an enormous explosion. However, after a successful launch on May 13, 2026, Russia conducted a successful test launch of the RS-28. Russia may be sitting on one of the most powerful nuclear weapons that could allegedly render any prospective US missile defences useless — it is as powerful as the Voyevoda but with higher precision.
President Putin Praises RS-28 Sarmat Test as Russia Moves to Modernize Nuclear Forces
President Vladimir Putin tested the RS-28 Sarmat, and the result came out in flying colors as Russia’s new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile was test-launched at an unspecified location in Russia in an effort to modernise its nuclear forces. Following the test, President Vladimir Putin praised the launch and days later claimed that the fighting in Ukraine is nearing an end. Additionally, Putin said the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile will enter combat service at the end of the year. It has been built to replace the ageing Soviet-built Voyevoda.
According to President Vladimir Putin, “This is the most powerful missile in the world,” adding that the combined power of its individually targeted warheads is more than four times that of any of its Western counterparts.
Mariam Emily Adama is a copywriter, SEO strategist, and digital marketer passionate about using words to inform, inspire, and influence. With over seven years of experience writing for global brands and managing digital campaigns, she brings a data-driven yet creative approach to content creation. When she’s not writing or analyzing trends, Mariam enjoys exploring new cultures, reading, and documenting stories that celebrate African excellence.