Russia conducts Sarmat missile test and announces deployment plans

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a successful test of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, confirming it is set for operational deployment by the end of 2026. Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces Sergey Karakayev reported that the test confirmed the missile's reliability and technological capabilities. Putin claimed the Sarmat has a range exceeding 35,000 kilometers and holds a nuclear warhead capacity four times greater than Western equivalents. Additionally, Putin stated that the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile can be armed with nuclear warheads and has already been deployed in Belarus. He noted that Oreshnik has been used twice in the conflict in Ukraine. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev commented on the Sarmat test with a warning directed at Western nations. Some reports conflict on the exact timeline for Sarmat's full operational readiness, citing discrepancies between end-of-year 2026 targets and other statements.