A recent attempt by the Russian military to launch a RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) ended in failure as the missile exploded before or during launch. The incident occurred at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, leaving a large crater at the missile silo site. This marks the second unsuccessful test of the RS-28 Sarmat missile in less than two years, dealing a setback to Russia's nuclear forces. The failure comes shortly after a warning from the head of the Russian legislature about the potential use of the missile against Europe in response to geopolitical tensions.

Commercial satellite imagery captured the aftermath of the explosion, showing extensive damage around the launch pad and a significant crater at the opening of the underground silo. Analysts noted that fires were still burning in the surrounding forest, and fire trucks were present near the destroyed silo. The RS-28 Sarmat missile, also known as Satan II, is Russia's largest ICBM capable of delivering nuclear warheads to targets over 11,000 miles away, making it the longest-range missile globally.

Western analysts are uncertain about the exact timing of the explosion, with some speculating that the launch attempt occurred on a specific date and was followed by the missile exploding during ignition. Others suggest that the incident may have happened during defueling of the missile after a scrubbed test. The destruction at the launch site was significant, leading experts to believe there was a massive explosion. Russia had issued warnings to pilots to steer clear of the airspace along the flight path preceding the planned missile launch, which was later canceled two days before the explosion was detected in the satellite imagery.