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Putin ‘tested Satan II intercontinental ballistic missile during Biden’s visit to Ukraine but it failed’

Russia tested an intercontinental ballistic missile while President Biden was in Ukraine that appears to have failed, according to a report.

A Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. Picture: RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY
A Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. Picture: RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY

Russia tested an intercontinental ballistic missile while President Biden was in Ukraine that appears to have failed, according to a report.

US officials told CNN on Tuesday that Russia used a deconfliction line to notify the US in advance of the missile test, which reportedly did not pose a risk to the country.

According to the officials, the US did not view the test as an anomaly or an escalation, the New York Post reported.

The test was of a nuclear-capable heavy SARMAT missile, dubbed Satan II by NATO, and classified as a “superweapon” by the head of Russia’s aerospace research agency.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state of the nation address at the Gostiny Dvor conference centre in central Moscow. (Photo by Dmitry ASTAKHOV / SPUTNIK / AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state of the nation address at the Gostiny Dvor conference centre in central Moscow. (Photo by Dmitry ASTAKHOV / SPUTNIK / AFP)

US officials believe the test failed since Russian President Vladimir Putin did not mention it in his State of the Nation address on Tuesday.

During his address, Putin announced that Russia will be suspending its participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States.

US officials notified the Kremlin on Sunday, through the de-confliction line, that Biden, 80, would be making the voyage to the Ukrainian capital ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the former Soviet state, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday.

A Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. Picture: RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY
A Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. Picture: RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY

The reported test launch of the missile designed to carry up to 15 nuclear warheads, as well as hypersonic munitions, is Putin’s latest apparent attempt at sabre-rattling aimed at the US.

Last week, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said that the US military intercepted eight Russian fighter jets near Alaska in two separate incidents.

The first group of four Russian aircraft — which included a Tupolev TU-95 BEAR-H strategic bomber and SU-30 and SU-35 fighter jets — approached the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on Feb. 13 and were followed by a second quartet a day later, according to NORAD.

In both incidents, NORAD sent US fighter jets and support aircraft to intercept the Russian warplanes.

US President Joe Biden walking next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Photo by Handout / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) S
US President Joe Biden walking next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Photo by Handout / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) S

This story was originally published by the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Putin ‘tested Satan II intercontinental ballistic missile during Biden’s visit to Ukraine but it failed’

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/putin-tested-satan-ii-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-during-bidens-visit-to-ukraine-but-it-failed/news-story/08cd676c1346c1277550b36122db98d4