Putin hails Russia's test launch of a new ballistic missile

World Putin hails Russia's test launch of a new ballistic missile May 13, 20266:20 AM ET By  The Associated Press In this image made from video provided by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Russia's new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile is test launched at an unspecified location in Russia. AP/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service hide caption toggle caption AP/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service MOSCOW — Russia on Tuesday test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile as part of efforts to modernize the country's nuclear forces, a launch hailed by President Vladimir Putin just days after his claim that the fighting in Ukraine is nearing an end. Putin said that the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile would enter combat service at the end of the year. It was built to replace the aging Soviet-built Voyevoda. "This is the most powerful missile in the world," Putin declared, adding that the combined power of the Sarmat's individually targeted warheads is more than four times higher than that of any Western counterpart. Sponsor Message The Russian leader has repeatedly brandished the nuclear sword after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022 to try to deter the West from ramping up support for Ukraine. After overseeing a military parade on Red Square on Saturday commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, which for the first time in nearly two decades didn't include heavy weapons, Putin declared the conflict in Ukraine is coming to an end. Since coming to power in 2000, Putin has overseen efforts to upgrade the Soviet-built components of the Russian nuclear triad — deploying hundreds of new, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, commissioning new nuclear submarines and modernizing nuclear-capable bombers. Russian Strategic Missile Forces chief, Col. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, left on the screen, reports to President Vladimir Putin on a successful test launch of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic m...