---
title: 'Putin Hails Successful Test of Russia’s Sarmat Intercontinental Missile'
url: 'https://thediplomaticinsight.com/putin-hails-successful-test-of-russias-sarmat-missile/'
author: 'News Desk'
date: '2026-05-13T15:31:44+05:00'
categories:
  - 'Europe'
  - 'World'
tags:
  - 'Europe'
  - 'New START'
  - 'Russia'
  - 'Sarmat nuclear missile'
  - 'Vladimir Putin'
---

# Putin Hails Successful Test of Russia’s Sarmat Intercontinental Missile

**Moscow (TDI):** Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the successful test launch of the country’s new strategic intercontinental ballistic missile, Sarmat, calling it “the most powerful in the world.”

According to Russian state television, Sergei Karakayev, commander of Russia’s strategic missile forces, briefed Putin on Tuesday about what was described as a successful test launch of the system.

Putin said the Sarmat missile would be placed on “combat duty” by the end of the year. The missile is designed to carry nuclear warheads over long distances, with the capability to strike targets in the United States or Europe.

He claimed the system has a significantly higher destructive capacity than Western counterparts and said its range exceeds 35,000 kilometres, making it capable of bypassing existing and future missile defense systems.

Military officials said the deployment of the system would substantially strengthen Russia’s strategic nuclear forces and improve its long-range deterrence capabilities.

**Read More: [Putin Says Russian Forces Fighting NATO-Backed Enemy in Victory Day Address](https://thediplomaticinsight.com/putin-says-russian-forces-fighting-nato-backed-enemy/)**

The test comes at a time when the last remaining arms control treaty between the United States and Russia, New START, has expired, ending formal limits on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals.

Western analysts have previously questioned some Russian claims about its latest generation of weapons, noting that the Sarmat program has experienced earlier technical setbacks, including a failed test in 2024 that reportedly damaged a launch site.

**Read More: [Putin Pledges ‘Unwavering Support’ to Iran’s New Supreme Leader](https://thediplomaticinsight.com/putin-unwavering-support-irans-supreme-leader/)**

Since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Russia has repeatedly highlighted the scale of its nuclear arsenal, which Western governments interpret as a signal aimed at deterring deeper Western involvement in the conflict.