Putin Announces Successful Test of Unmatched Nuclear-Powered Burevestnik Missile

Early Sunday, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has successfully conducted a test of its nuclear-powered intercontinental cruise missile, known as Burevestnik.

Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, informed Putin that the test, which occurred on Tuesday, involved the missile traveling 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) over approximately 15 hours.

“The technical specifications of the Burevestnik enable it to strike highly fortified targets with guaranteed accuracy at any distance,” he stated.

“It is genuinely a one-of-a-kind weapon that no other nation possesses,” Putin remarked during his visit to a command center of the Russian joint military forces.

He also instructed the development of infrastructure to integrate this weapon into the Russian military.

The confirmation of the Burevestnik tests follows recent satellite imagery and navigation alerts suggesting a forthcoming launch.

Putin has previously highlighted the “invincible” nature of the Burevestnik, claiming it has nearly unlimited range and can bypass U.S. missile defense systems, a feature he first showcased in 2018.

The Burevestnik, which is part of Russia’s sophisticated weapons program labeled as SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO, made headlines in 2019 following a failed test that led to a disastrous recovery operation in the Arctic.

The declaration of a successful final test comes amidst Russian forces gradually advancing in Ukraine, persistently pushing through Kyiv’s defenses in intense battles.

Peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv have stagnated, despite mediation efforts from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had promised to swiftly resolve the conflict upon his return to the White House in January.

On Wednesday, Trump imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil firms, expressing frustration that his discussions with Putin to resolve the Ukraine conflict were unproductive.

Putin, conversely, indicated on Sunday that he does not wish to establish a timeline for concluding the hostilities.

“We are not going to tie our actions to any specific dates or events… our decisions will be guided by military necessity,” he said.