Russia has test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile, the Sarmat, which President Vladimir Putin claims is the 'most powerful in the world.'
The launch comes just days after Putin declared that the fighting in Ukraine is nearing an end.
Putin said the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile will enter combat service at the end of the year, replacing the ageing Soviet-built Voyevoda.
The Sarmat is capable of suborbital flight, giving it a range of over 35,000 kilometers, and is designed to penetrate any prospective missile defenses.
Russia has also commissioned new nuclear-capable missiles, including the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle and the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile.
The development of these new weapons has pushed the United States to launch a costly modernization of its arsenal, and has fueled fears of an unconstrained nuclear arms race.
