Russia’s space and missile programs were hit by two separate incidents this week, raising new questions about the country’s aging infrastructure and shifting priorities.
Baikonur Launch Pad Heavily Damaged After Soyuz Liftoff
At Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome, a key platform used for crewed space missions suffered significant damage during Thursday’s launch of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft.
Roscosmos acknowledged that parts of the pad were found broken after the rocket lifted off, describing the discovery as part of a routine post-launch inspection. Video shared by the agency showed a massive service platform collapsing into the flame trench beneath the rocket—a 20-ton piece of equipment that experts say will not be easy to replace.
Independent analysts interviewed by Newsweek warned that the destruction could be severe. Because Russia relies on this specific launch pad for all missions carrying astronauts, any interruption could directly impact its ability to send crews to the International Space Station.
Space analyst Vitaly Egorov noted on Telegram that Baikonur has been Russia’s “sole crew launch site” since 2018, and losing it—even temporarily—puts Moscow in a position it has not faced since the early days of the space race.
Specialists speaking to Ars Technica suggested the mishap may reflect Moscow’s shifting budget priorities as resources are redirected toward the war in Ukraine. “We’ll soon see how much the ISS still matters to Russia’s leadership,” Voyager executive Jeff Manber told the outlet.
Despite the damaged pad, the mission itself succeeded. NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev arrived safely at the ISS, joining the current crew for a planned 242-day stay.
Purple Cloud Over Orenburg After Suspected Failed Missile Launch
Only hours later, residents of Yasny in Russia’s Orenburg region reported a loud blast followed by a towering purple cloud rising above a nearby missile base. The Telegram channel Astra, which first circulated eyewitness videos, said the incident appeared to involve a failed launch from the strategic missile site.
No evacuation was ordered, and regional officials insisted there was no danger, while directing all questions to the Defense Ministry. Moscow has not issued an official explanation.
Astra’s footage shows a dark, mushroom-shaped plume at the moment of the explosion. Analysts believe the blast may be connected to Russia’s Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile—a system Moscow has struggled to bring into full service. A previous Sarmat test reportedly ended in an explosion at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, prompting speculation that testing may have been relocated to the Yasny base.
Defense experts noted that the purple smoke seen in videos is typical of missiles powered by highly toxic propellants such as heptyl and amyl, both associated with the Sarmat ICBM. Others suggested an older UR-100N missile fitted with an Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle may have been involved.
Yasny hosts one of Russia’s main strategic missile divisions and is home to both a cosmodrome and nuclear-capable launch facilities. The region plays a central role in Russia’s long-range strike capabilities.
Growing Concerns Over Russia’s Strategic Stability
The back-to-back incidents come as Russia continues testing advanced weapons systems, including last month’s trial of the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile from the Novaya Zemlya archipelago.
With the Baikonur launch pad damaged and reports of another failed missile launch circulating online, analysts say Moscow may face increasing pressure to prove it can maintain both its civilian space program and its strategic arsenal amid tightening budgets and ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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