(Reuters) – Russia announced Wednesday that it has conducted the first test launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile Sarmat, a new addition to Moscow’s nuclear arsenal that President Vladimir Putin says will give Moscow’s enemies something to think about.

Putin went on television and received information from members of the Armed Forces that the missile was launched from Plesetsk in the northwest of the country and hit targets in the Kamchatka peninsula in the far east of Russia.

The Sarmat has been in development for years and so the launch test comes as no surprise to the West, but it comes at a time of extreme geopolitical tension due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“The new weapons have the highest tactical and technical characteristics and are capable of surpassing all modern anti-missile defense vehicles. It is unique in the world and will not be for a long time,” Putin said. said.

“This truly unique weapon will strengthen the combat potential of our Armed Forces, reliably guarantee Russia’s security against external threats, and give insight to those who are trying to threaten our country with the fervor of crazy aggressive rhetoric.”

The Sarmat is a new heavy intercontinental ballistic missile that Russia is expected to deploy with 10 or more warheads per missile, according to the US Congressional Research Service.

With the February 24 invasion of Ukraine, Putin referred directly to Russia’s nuclear powers and warned the West that any attempt to get in his way would “have consequences you have never seen in its history.”

Days later, he ordered Russia’s nuclear forces to be placed on high alert, raising concerns in the West.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on 14 March: “The once unthinkable possibility of nuclear conflict has now returned to the realm of possibility.”

In a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, it was stated that the Sarmat was fired from a silo at 15:12 Moscow time and the training warheads reached the test range in Kamchatka in the Pacific at a distance of about 6,000 km.

“Sarmat is the most powerful missile with the longest target destruction range in the world, which will significantly increase the combat power of our country’s strategic nuclear forces,” said Putin.

(reported by Mark Trevelyan)