Statement by the President on the successful test launch of Sarmat missile

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Mr Karakayev. Do you hear me?

Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces Sergei Karakayev: Good afternoon, Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Vladimir Putin: Please, proceed, Mr Karakayev.

Sergei Karakayev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

Today at 11:15 a.m., the Strategic Missile Forces launched the latest heavy liquid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile, the Sarmat. The launch was successful. The launch mission has been accomplished.

The test results confirmed the correctness of the design and technology solutions employed, as well as the missile system's ability to meet its designated performance specifications.

The Sarmat strategic missile system - a silo-based, stationary intercontinental ballistic missile - is being developed to replace the Soviet-era Voyevoda system. The Sarmat surpasses its predecessor in key combat characteristics, first of all in range, throw-weight, launch readiness, and countermeasure capabilities designed to confidently overcome both existing and future missile defence systems.

The system is being developed by the Academician V. Makeyev State Rocket Centre in collaboration with a network of industrial partners.

The successful launch results would allow the first missile regiment equipped with the Sarmat system to be placed on combat duty in the Uzhur formation, Krasnoyarsk Territory, by the end of the year.

The deployment of Sarmat launch systems will significantly increase combat capabilities of Russia's land-based strategic nuclear forces, enhancing their ability to engage targets and fulfil strategic deterrence objectives.

The objective set for this launch has been accomplished. We will now proceed with placing the missiles on combat standby duty. This concludes the report.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Karakayev, congratulations, I wish you further success. In this regard, I would like to say the following.

Work on strengthening Russia's deterrence forces resumed in the early 2000s and has continued ever since. Frankly, at that time, Russia faced many more immediate challenges. The country was going through a very difficult period in its history. However, after the United States withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, we were compelled - and I want to emphasise this, compelled - to reassess how to ensure our strategic security under new conditions and maintain strategic balance and parity. This is precisely why - let me stress this once again - Russia began developing advanced systems that have no equivalents in the world and are designed to penetrate both current and future missile defence systems."

To be continued.