Home / War and Conflict / Russia's Doomsday Missile Explodes on Launch
Russia's Doomsday Missile Explodes on Launch
2 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Russia's powerful ICBM crashed shortly after launch.
- The failed missile is likely the advanced RS-28 Sarmat.
- This failure impacts Russia's nuclear deterrence capabilities.
A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) suffered a catastrophic failure Friday, crashing just moments after its launch from an underground silo. The incident, which occurred in the Orenburg Oblast near the Russian-Kazakh border, involved a missile believed to be the advanced RS-28 Sarmat, Russia's next-generation heavy-duty ICBM designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads.
The missile veered off course immediately after launch, cartwheeled, and crashed near the Dombarovsky air base, accompanied by a fireball and toxic fumes. This failure adds to a string of problems plaguing the Sarmat program, significantly impacting Russia's medium-term nuclear deterrence capabilities as it struggles to replace aging missiles.
Analysts suggest this latest failure, occurring while Russia's military resources are focused on the war in Ukraine, further delays the Sarmat's entry into service. The incident casts doubt on Russia's ability to rely on this "doomsday weapon" for combat duty and raises questions about the overall readiness of its nuclear arsenal.
