A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was launched from an underground silo in southern Russia on Friday as part of a planned test intended to demonstrate the delivery of a dummy warhead to a target nearly 4,000 miles away. However, the missile reportedly failed spectacularly, crashing just short of 4,000 feet from its launch point.
While Russian military officials have remained tight-lipped regarding the incident, the impact of the missile was audible and visible over a considerable distance from the Dombarovsky air base in Orenburg Oblast, located near the border with Kazakhstan.
Footage shared on the Russian blog site MilitaryRussia.ru and circulated across various social media channels reveals the missile deviating from its intended flight path almost immediately after launch. The video captures the missile tumbling and losing thrust before crashing in close proximity to the launch site, during which it ejected a component, possibly aimed at salvaging its payload, according to Pavel Podvig, a senior researcher with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.
The crash was marked by a fireball and a toxic reddish-brown cloud, indicative of the propellant’s hazardous composition, which includes hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide—common fuels for Russia’s most advanced ICBMs. Satellite imagery taken subsequent to the launch shows a significant crater and burn marks near the missile silo.
Analysts suggest that the launch was likely a test of the RS-28 Sarmat missile, designed to target locations over 11,000 miles (18,000 kilometers) away, rendering it the longest-range missile currently in existence.
Concerns Over Capability and Reliability
The Sarmat missile is classified as Russia’s state-of-the-art heavy ICBM, with the potential to carry up to 10 large nuclear warheads or a combination of warheads and countermeasures, as outlined by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It is particularly engineered for high-stakes scenarios, such as an all-out nuclear confrontation with the United States.
Unsurprisingly, Russian authorities have consistently heralded the Sarmat’s capabilities. President Vladimir Putin has referred to it as a “truly unique weapon,” suggesting it provides leverage against perceived threats. Meanwhile, Dmitry Rogozin, the former head of Russia’s space agency, described it as a “superweapon” following its inaugural test flight in 2022.
What distinguishes the Sarmat missile thus far is not its claimed prowess, but rather a concerning track record of failures. Following a seemingly successful first test flight in 2022, the program has encountered numerous setbacks, culminating in a disastrous explosion last year that devastated a Sarmat missile silo in northern Russia.
