Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia will deploy the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), known as "Satan II," by the end of 2026, following a successful test launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The missile, which struck its target at the Kura test range in Kamchatka, is described as the world’s most powerful nuclear-capable ICBM, capable of carrying multiple warheads and approaching targets via unconventional routes, including over the South Pole. Putin hailed the test as a key modernization effort for Russia’s nuclear forces .
The Kremlin has clarified that despite Putin’s recent suggestion that the war in Ukraine was nearing an end, no concrete plans or specifics for concluding the conflict have been established. The statement underscores ongoing uncertainty about the war’s resolution . Meanwhile, in a Victory Day address, Putin signaled potential negotiations for a Ukraine war settlement by nominating former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a negotiator, raising questions about Germany’s role in the process .
Ukraine retaliated against Russian attacks that killed at least six civilians by targeting distant Russian gas facilities. The three-day ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv expired, leading to renewed hostilities, including Russian drone strikes on a residential building in Kyiv that killed three civilians and injured 16 . Additionally, a Russian student recruited into the country’s drone forces was reported killed in Ukraine .
Nearly 60 countries have united to address Russia’s alleged genocidal kidnapping of Ukrainian children, while Ukraine expressed concerns that the U.S. might push for a deal favoring Russia without adequate concessions for Kyiv .
> Background: **Russia Tests Satan II Missile as Ukraine Ceasefire Collapses** — *2 hours ago*