Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday announced that RS-28 Sarmat, Russia's new intercontinental ballistic missile, was successfully test-launched and described it as the most powerful missile in the world.

Putin said the nuclear-capable missile, also known in the West as “Satan II,” will be placed into combat service by the end of this year.

“This is the most powerful missile in the world,” he said, claiming that its multiple nuclear warheads have more than four times the combined power of similar Western missiles.

The launch is part of Russia’s long-running programme to modernize its nuclear forces. The Sarmat is designed to replace the Soviet-era Voyevoda missile, which has been in service for decades.

Putin has frequently highlighted Russia’s nuclear capabilities since ordering troops into Ukraine in February 2022, warning Western countries against increasing military support for Kyiv.

Just days earlier, Putin said the war in Ukraine was nearing its end.

Since coming to power in 2000, Putin has overseen a major upgrade of Russia’s nuclear arsenal, including new land-based missiles, nuclear submarines and strategic bombers.

The Sarmat programme began in 2011. Before Tuesday’s launch, the missile had only one publicly known successful test and reportedly suffered a major explosion during a failed test in 2024.

Putin said the missile has improved accuracy and can travel more than 35,000 kilometres, including along suborbital paths, making it harder to intercept with missile defence systems.

The Sarmat is one of several advanced weapons unveiled by Putin in 2018. Others include the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, the Oreshnik missile, the Poseidon underwater drone and the Burevestnik cruise missile.

Putin said these weapons were developed in response to US missile defence systems, which Russia sees as a threat to the strategic balance between Moscow and United States.

The last major nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States expired in February, leaving no limits on the two countries’ nuclear arsenals for the first time in more than 50 years and raising concerns about a new arms race.