Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Russia conducted a test of the Burevestnik, a new nuclear-capable, nuclear-powered cruise missile, according to remarks by Russia’s top general to President Vladimir Putin released on Sunday.
General Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia’s armed forces, told Putin that the missile traveled 14,000 km and remained in the air for approximately 15 hours.
How did Putin describe the Burevestnik’s capabilities?
President Vladimir Putin said that Russia has successfully carried out a test of its nuclear-powered intercontinental cruise missile Burevestnik. He stated that the 9M730 Burevestnik is considered “invincible” against current and future missile defences, boasting nearly unlimited range and an unpredictable flight trajectory.
“It is truly a unique weapon, one that no other country in the world possesses,”
Putin spoke during a visit to a Russian joint forces command center.
In his Sunday remarks, Putin, in camouflage fatigues, told Gerasimov that the important Burevestnik tests are now complete and that preparations should begin for the final phase prior to missile deployment.
What happened during the 2019 failed Burevestnik test?
The Burevestnik, which NATO has dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall, is a cruise missile that is nuclear-powered and is expected to have a theoretically unlimited range. The Burevestnik made headlines around the world in August 2019, following a test that ended catastrophically near the Arctic Circle off the Novaya Zemlya archipelago.
The test was classified, and the missile exploded while scientists were retrieving the missile after the failed test, resulting in an explosion that killed five nuclear specialists and injured others. The explosion also released radioactive material, sparking concerns about environmental and safety risks that may arise from the nuclear propulsion system.
What was included in Russia’s recent nuclear forces drill?
Additionally, on October 22, 2025, Russia also executed a large military drill with its nuclear forces. They tested the readiness and command structure of its nuclear triad in which would include simulated land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches, missile launches from submarine platforms in the Barents Sea, and long-range cruise missile launches from strategic bombers. This drill sought to project Russia’s nuclear deterrent capabilities and the response of its strategic forces within the environment of increasing international tensions and sanctions.
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