• Yury Borisov, the head of Russia's Roscosmos space agency, said on Friday that the country's advanced Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) have gone on active combat duty. TASS
• "The Sarmat strategic system has assumed combat alert posture," Borisov said in public comments that were widely reported across Russian media. TASS
• The advanced weapon, capable of carrying at least 10 nuclear warheads — as estimated by the US — reportedly weighs more than 200 tonnes and has a range of 11K miles. It was developed to replace Russia's older generation of ICBMs that dated back to the 1980s. Al Jazeera (a) (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• In April 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, the weapon was successfully tested — according to the country's defense ministry — reportedly launching from Plesetsk in Russia’s northwest and hitting targets in the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia's far east. Al Jazeera (b) (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• Congratulating the military on the successful launch in televised remarks, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin said: "This truly unique weapon will strengthen the combat potential of our armed forces, reliably ensure the security of Russia from external threats, and make those who – in the heat of aggressive rhetoric – try to threaten our country think twice." Al Jazeera (b) (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• On Friday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the US couldn't confirm reports that Russia had put the weapon into active duty. Al Jazeera (a) (LR: 2 CP: 1)

Anti-Russia narrative:

• This development is a grave escalation of the nuclear risks posed by Russia, matched by its ever-increasing nuclear rhetoric. These threats need to be met with firm countermeasures, and Russia's belligerence needs to be confronted.
  Newsweek (LR: 1 CP: 5)

Pro-Russia narrative:

• This truly unique weapon is unmatched in its capabilities. It should send a clear message to those threatening the existence of Russia to think twice before going down that path. Russia will always be prepared to defend itself.
  TASS

Nerd narrative:

• There's a 96% chance that no non-test nuclear weapon will be detonated by Jan. 1, 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  Metaculus (LR: 3 CP: 3)