Russia’s latest nuclear test of a Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile has ended in a catastrophic explosion, dealing a significant blow to the country’s efforts to modernize its nuclear arsenal. The explosion occurred at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, leaving a 200-foot-wide crater and debris scattered across the launch site.
Pavel Podvig, director of the Russian Nuclear Forces Project, an arms control and nuclear weapons analysis blog, said the explosion likely happened during the missile’s defueling process. Satellite imagery shows signs that the missile may have exploded in its silo.
The incident has raised concerns about the reliability and modernization of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. These are the types of weapons Russia would use to strike the U.S. and the West, and the Kremlin has been plagued by setbacks and failures in recent years while trying to upgrade them.
Since June 2023, six Russian tests of its nuclear weaponry have ended in failure, including tests of the Poseidon torpedo and Bulava submarine-launched missile.
The Sarmat missile, also known as Satan II, first entered service in 2021. Russia claims this powerful intercontinental ballistic missile can travel over 11,000 miles and carry a massive payload of up to 10 tons, making it one of the most advanced ICBMs in production.
The Kremlin declined to comment on the alleged explosion during a press briefing on Monday, Sept. 23. This was the fourth failed test of the new heavy intercontinental ballistic missile. The only successful test of the Satan II missile occurred in April 2022.
