politics
December 3, 2025
The missile meant to strike fear in Russia’s enemies fails once again
One of Vladimir Putin’s favorite sabres to rattle seems to have lost its edge.
TL;DR
- A Russian ICBM failed shortly after launch during a test, crashing near the Dombarovsky air base.
- The crashed missile is believed to be the RS-28 Sarmat, a heavy-duty ICBM designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads.
- The failure, evidenced by a fireball and crash site, suggests significant technical issues with the Sarmat program.
- The Sarmat is intended to replace Russia's aging R-36M2 ICBM fleet, which is becoming obsolete and relies on previously Ukrainian-maintained components.
- This incident casts doubt on the readiness of Russia's nuclear arsenal and delays the Sarmat's operational deployment.
- The failure occurs while Russia's military resources are focused on the war in Ukraine, potentially hindering nuclear modernization efforts.
- Analysts suggest the Sarmat program could face cancellation, with Russia potentially relying on its existing smaller ICBMs.
Continue reading
the original article