High-resolution satellite images of the launch pad at Russia's Plesetsk test site, where the RS-28 Sarmat ballistic missile exploded shows extensive damage.

By Anton Troianovski Two months after he launched his invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir V. Putin declared that Russia had succeeded in creating a “truly unique weapon” that would force anyone threatening the country “to think twice.”

A satellite overview of a launch site after the launch failure of a Russian RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, according to arms experts, at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, September 21,

A missile is reported to have exploded in its launch silo, leaving a massive crater and causing significant damage to the test site.

A Russian RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile likely failed during a test earlier this month, according to arms experts and satellite imagery from the launch site. Maxar satellite images from Sept.

Late last week, Russia's military planned to launch a Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on a test flight from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Imagery from commercial satellites captured over the weekend suggest the missile exploded before or during launch.

Open-source intelligence project MeNMyRC reported on Sept. 19 that a test launch of Russia’s RS-28 Sarmat Super-Heavy Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) resulted in failure at the launch site in Plesetsk,

Russia’s test launch of its RS-28 Sarmat Super-Heavy Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) has failed at the launch site in Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, the Open-source intelligence project MeNMyRC reported.

The fourth attempt to launch Russia's Satan 2 nuclear missile has also ended in failure. Satellite images showed an enormr crater at the site where the launch had taken place. The rocket exploded, completely destroying the launch site.