On May 12, 2026, Russia test-fired the RS-28 Sarmat missile, which the West calls "Satan II." This launch was significant because for the first time in more than 50 years, no treaty governed how many weapons like this Russia could keep. President Vladimir Putin said it was the most powerful missile in the world, claiming it could reach any point on Earth. Western analysts were more skeptical about its actual range.
The timing matters greatly. In February 2026, the New START treaty expired. This agreement, signed in 2010 and extended in 2021, was the last arms control deal between the United States and Russia. It limited the number of nuclear warheads each country could deploy. With its expiration and no new agreement in place, both nations now have no negotiated limits on their nuclear arsenals.
The Sarmat has had a difficult history. Putin first showed it publicly in 2018. Before this test, there was only one confirmed successful test in 2022. A test failed in February 2023, and another missile exploded during a failed test in 2024. Therefore, this successful launch was important for the Russian program.
The Sarmat is designed to replace about 40 older Soviet missiles called Voyevoda, which NATO nicknamed "Satan." Putin says the new missile will begin active service by the end of 2026. The launch occurred just three days after Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9, when Russia displayed its military strength in Moscow's Red Square.