Ukraine war: Russia’s Sarmat missile test poses global nuclear safety risk, say analysts

Vladimir Putin has said ‘truly unique’ weapon should make Russia’s enemies ‘mull over’ their aggressive rhetoric and threats

Moscow’s decision to apply nuclear deterrence means increased risk of nuclear war, analysts warn

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The Sarmat ICBM test-firing did not surprise defence and nuclear experts. Photo: Handout via Reuters

Published: 10:59pm, 22 Apr 2022Updated: 11:50pm, 22 Apr 2022

Moscow’s test launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile could pose a global nuclear safety risk as the Ukraine war turns into a de facto proxy battle between Russia and the West, analysts have warned.

This comes after Russia on Wednesday said it had successfully tested its Sarmat ICBM, dubbed “Satan II” by the West and capable of delivering multiple nuclear warheads. Russian President Vladimir Putin claims it can “hit any target on Earth”.

Defence and nuclear experts were not surprised by the timing of the test, which they said helped reveal the Kremlin’s political motivations and strategic aims in its ongoing assault on neighbouring Ukraine.

“The Sarmat has been under development for years and some preliminary tests were conducted earlier, while the operation of the launch also abided by conditions under the New START,” said Zhao Tong, a senior fellow at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Centre for Global Policy in Beijing.

The New START refers to the 2011 nuclear arms reduction treaty between Moscow and Washington – recently extended to February 2026 – under which the US received prior information of the Sarmat test-firing.

“However, it’s not prudent behaviour to launch such a powerful ICBM when the Russia-Ukraine war is still ongoing, especially when you compare it with the US decision to cancel the test of its Minuteman III [ICBM],” Zhao noted.