Russia asserts that placing the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile systems on combat duty would not shift the strategic balance with the United States. This stance was communicated by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, as reported by RIA News. He reiterated that Moscow remains fully aligned with the quantitative limits defined by the START Treaty, emphasizing a continuing commitment to measured, verifiable arms control principles that have guided bilateral security since the Cold War era.
Ryabkov also noted that the decision process around the DSNA action has been paused and that the method used to estimate weapon counts under this action has effectively become a speculative exercise. In his view, the pause in DSNA activity underscores the accountability and monitoring challenges that often accompany long-standing arms control regimes, reminding observers that transparency and precision in reporting remain essential to maintaining trust between major powers.
Describing Russia’s strategic nuclear forces as a “breathing organism,” Ryabkov argued that modernization efforts and the gradual decommissioning of older, legacy complexes are balancing each other out. This perspective suggests that while modernization introduces advanced capabilities, it does not necessarily translate into a rapid or unchecked growth of overall strategic arsenals. The Russia side frames the current posture as a dynamic but controlled evolution, intended to sustain deterrence without destabilizing the regional or global security environment, a claim that continues to be monitored by Western counterparts and international observers alike. [Source: RIA News]
On November 18, the latest silo-based strategic missile system, named Sarmat, was delivered for an experimental combat mission. This system comprises the heavy liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile also called Sarmat, which is designed to enhance range, payload flexibility, and survivability in modern strategic defense scenarios. The event marks a milestone in Moscow’s ongoing program to upgrade its ICBM force structure and to test new features under controlled conditions that inform future deployment decisions. [Attribution: RIA News]
A military expert previously highlighted distinctive characteristics of Russia’s Alabuga complex, noting its potential implications for deterrence and defense planning. The discussion around Alabuga centers on how innovative architectures within the strategic forces framework can influence strategic calculations and alliance responses across North America and allied regions, contributing to ongoing assessments of future arms control opportunities and risk management strategies. [Attribution: RIA News]