Why russia’s nuclear blackmail is no longer effective
russia’s use of threats involving “the latest nuclear weapons, which have no equal,” is a key part of its foreign policy during the war in Ukraine.
◽️ The kremlin’s most hyped weapon is the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which russian propagandists claim could “drown Britain” and “destroy Washington”. However, reality shows that russia’s nuclear power is largely a myth.
◽️ Since its development, there has been only one successful test of the Sarmat. After the most recent failed launch at Plesetsk, further testing could be delayed for a long time. If reports about an explosion in the underground launch silo are confirmed, it would mean the destruction of infrastructure, and russia doesn’t have other test sites. As a result, the Sarmat is only nominally in combat service.
The Sarmat’s predecessor, the Bulava missile, is outdated and can’t break through modern missile defense systems, making it less of a threat to the West. This shows that russia’s nuclear power is much weaker than the kremlin wants the world to believe.
