John Kirby, spokesman for the US Department of Defense, assured that the Russian firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile Sarmat was a “routine” test.
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The Pentagon assured that the Russian firing of a Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, successful for the first time on Wednesday April 20, was a test of “routine” and did not constitute “not a threat” for the United States, nor their allies. Moscow has “suitably informed” Washington of carrying out this test, in accordance with its obligations under the nuclear treaties, and it was therefore not a “surprise” for the US Department of Defense, added its spokesman John Kirby.
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The Russian army announced that it had successfully fired this very long-range new-generation missile for the first time, hailed by Vladimir Putin as “a unique weapon (…) which will ensure the security of Russia against external threats and which will make you think twice” possible adversaries. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the shooting took place at 2:12 p.m. Paris time and hit a target more than 5,000 kilometers away. Weighing over 200 tons, the Sarmat is supposed to outperform its predecessor, the Voevoda missile, which has a range of 11,000 km.