Russia holds some of the world's most dangerous and advanced weapons, dubbed "super weapons," including Avangard, Burevestnik, Zircon, Kinzhal, Poseidon, and Sarmat. Yet, why hasn't President Vladimir Putin utilized them in the Ukraine war, which began in February 2022? The Kinzhal missile was used, but there's no official confirmation from the Russian government on the deployment of the other missiles.
Read more: Why couldn't Russia's S-400 system, which neutralized Pakistan's attacks for India, stop Ukrainian drone assaults?
Russia's Super Weapons
Source: aajtak
Avangard Hypersonic Glide Vehicle:
It soars 20 times the speed of sound (Mach 20), i.e., 24,696 km/h. Capable of reaching targets up to 6,000 km away, it can carry nuclear or conventional warheads and evade radar.
Source: aajtak
9M730 Burevestnik:
A nuclear-powered cruise missile capable of flying several thousand kilometers. Nicknamed "Flying Chernobyl" due to its radioactive potential.
Read more: Radar evasion—China and Pakistan's key cities within range... DRDO advances its lethal hypersonic missile project
Source: aajtak
3M22 Zircon:
An anti-ship hypersonic missile with a range of 1,000 km, traveling at Mach 9 (11,113 km/h). Designed to destroy ships and land targets.
Source: aajtak
Kh-47M2 Kinzhal:
A hypersonic ballistic missile launched from an aircraft, reaching 2,000 km and speeds of Mach 10 (12,348 km/h).
Read more: Prithvi, Agni, BrahMos... India’s guided nuclear missiles capable of turning Pakistan into a graveyard in one strike
Source: aajtak
Poseidon:
A nuclear-powered drone that targets coastal cities via the sea, traveling up to 10,000 km, causing tsunamis with nuclear explosions.
Source: aajtak
RS-28 Sarmat:
Also named "Satan-2," this heavy intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) can strike up to 18,000 km, carrying 10-15 nuclear warheads.
Why Haven't These Been Used by Russia?
Putin has not used these super weapons in Ukraine due to multiple factors...
Global Risk:
Using these weapons, particularly Sarmat and Poseidon, could ignite World War III. While Russia holds 6,000 nuclear arms, the US has 5,500. An attack by Russia could lead to retaliatory strikes by NATO and the US. Putin stated in November 2024 that nuclear weapons lack military advantage.
Read more: If the warm-up strike was this fierce, what will the next assault look like? Missiles envelop Pakistan in smoke, torpedo firing forces them onto the backfoot
Diplomatic Pressure:
Using such weapons could alienate Russia's remaining allies, like China and India, isolating Russia on the world stage.
Ukraine's Strategy:
Ukraine’s scattered and agile forces make using weapons like Kinzhal or Zircon challenging. Russian troops also lack adequate training, making it hard to use such weapons without risking allied forces.
Source: aajtak
Limited Objectives:
Putin’s aim is to annex regions like Donbas, not obliterate all of Ukraine. Utilizing such weapons on cities like Kyiv could draw NATO into the conflict.
The Power of Threats:
The mere threat of these weapons has benefited Russia. Putin's threats have deterred direct NATO intervention. In May 2025, Russia conducted attacks with 355 drones and 9 missiles, avoiding super weapon deployment.
War Conditions (As of June 2025)
Russia gained ground in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk, yet Ukraine destroyed 31 S-400 systems.
From April 20 to May 16, 2025, 4,126 violent incidents occurred, claiming 108 lives.
Ukraine used American ATACMS and Neptune missiles (1,000 km range) to damage Russia.
In 2025, Russia ramped up missile production but avoided using super weapons.
The Threat Is the Real Weapon
Putin’s strategy involves leveraging the fear of super weapons rather than their deployment. These weapons prove more effective as threats. Utilizing them could cost Putin his credibility and allies. Experts believe Putin seeks to stretch the conflict, aiming for Ukraine and its allies to tire.
