Nuclear ICBM RS-28 “Sarmat” reportedly explodes during Russian test
According to OSINT analyst MT Anderson, the RS-28 “Sarmat” missile exploded in its silo at the Plesetsk test range in the Arkhangelsk region, leaving a massive crater and destroying the facility.
This is reportedly the fourth failed test of the “Sarmat”; the first and only successful test occurred on April 20, 2022.
We can debate whether Ukraine is justified in launching these types of attacks into Russian territory, but the big question is “How will Putin react?” He’s not going to use nuclear weapons, but it’s likely that he will step up the use of hypersonic conventional missiles to destroy Ukrainian targets, which may involve collateral civilian casualties. The question then becomes “How will the US and other NATO countries react to Putin’s launch of these missiles? Reportedly, Jake Sullivan is the only US official blocking Ukraine’s widespread use of missiles to attack targets deep into Russian territory. Other US officials (Blinken?), as well as many European officials, are ready to start immediately launching these attacks into Russia. The Europeans can’t act without US approval, but who knows what will happen if Sullivan loses influence?