Russian President Vladimir Putin's intercontinental ballistic missile known as Satan II, which he described as "invincible," reportedly failed in its latest test. Known as "Satan" in the West, these missiles are considered the world's longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles, with a range of 18,000 kilometers and the capacity to carry nuclear warheads. The British newspaper The Times reported, based on satellite data, that the missile, also known as RS-28 Sarmat, failed in its recent tests. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies showed a large crater formed in the area where the test was conducted. Russian officials have frequently used these missiles to threaten the West, claiming that they could hit cities in European countries supporting Ukraine, such as the UK and France, within minutes. Military analysts noted that the missile has experienced a series of failures following a successful test in 2022. Pavel Podvig, an expert on Russia's nuclear capabilities, stated that all indicators pointed to the missile launched from the Arctic region to Kamchatka being a failure. This development is seen as a significant event in terms of international security balances, while also casting a shadow over Russia's claims in military technology.
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