Russia’s development program for the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), known by NATO as “Satan II,” experienced another launch setback in November 2025. The test failure, reported to be the fifth such incident, follows a high-profile admission by President Vladimir Putin in October 2025 that the weapon system remains non-operational. The program, intended to modernize Russia’s nuclear deterrent, continues to face technological and logistical challenges amid international sanctions.
Story Highlights
- The RS-28 Sarmat missile experienced an in-flight malfunction during a test launch in November 2025.
- This marks the fifth documented failure in the missile’s testing phase.
- President Vladimir Putin stated in October 2025 that the Sarmat is “not yet deployed,” contradicting earlier official claims.
- Satellite imagery from September 2024 revealed a 203-foot crater at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, which was attributed to a prior test failure.
- The missile program’s struggles are occurring within the context of ongoing Western sanctions and resource allocation toward the conflict in Ukraine.
Analysis of Development Setbacks
The RS-28 Sarmat ICBM was publicly introduced in March 2018 as a cornerstone of Russia’s next-generation nuclear capabilities. However, four of the five documented tests have concluded with an in-flight failure, including the most recent incident in November 2025, where the missile reportedly crashed shortly after takeoff.
These repeated test failures come after President Putin’s statement to military personnel in October 2025, where he confirmed the Sarmat is “not yet deployed, but it will be soon.” This statement provides a counterpoint to a 2023 assertion by Roscosmos that the missile was operational and combat-ready. Further contributing to the scrutiny of the program was the public release of satellite imagery by Maxar Technologies, which documented a significant 203-foot crater at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, resulting from a test failure in September 2024.
đź’Ą Russia: Putin's latest intercontinental ballistic missile RS-28 Sarmat (Satan II) failed spectacularly at the Yasnoe cosmodrome test site in Orenburg region. pic.twitter.com/B0fFROGHnv
— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) November 28, 2025
Factors Affecting Modernization
The sustained issues with the Sarmat system are indicative of systemic challenges within Russia’s defense sector. The liquid-fueled, three-stage missile, developed by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau, is intended to replace aging Soviet-era ICBMs. Technical reviews have cited issues such as design flaws in fuel systems, launch mechanisms, and concerns about structural integrity during the initial launch phase.
These technical challenges are occurring while the Russian military-industrial complex is operating under the constraints of Western sanctions. Analysts suggest that these sanctions and related technological restrictions impact the sector’s ability to access critical components and expertise necessary for large-scale modernization efforts.
Implications for Strategic Deterrence
The inability to consistently achieve successful test launches complicates the Strategic Missile Forces’ certification of the Sarmat weapon system. This situation necessitates the continued reliance on decades-old ICBM technology to maintain Russia’s nuclear deterrent posture. This gap between the country’s public assertions regarding its military readiness and its documented technological progress is a factor considered in the defense calculations of NATO member states and other international intelligence agencies.
Watch the report: Moment Russian missile test goes horribly wrong as rocket flips and crashes in huge explosion
Sources
A catastrophic failure of a Russian strategic missile test was captured on video on November 28, 2025,
John Earle Sullivan | catastrophic failure of a Russian strategic missile test was captured on video on November 28, 2025| Instagram
Putin’s ‘Doomsday Missile’ RS-28 Sarmat Crashes Spectacularly in Latest Test Fiasco
