Russias Burevestnik Missile Test: A Show of Nuclear Power Amid Ongoing Geopolitical Tensions

On Sunday, Russia announced that it had successfully conducted a final test of its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile. This event comes amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and amidst uncertainties regarding a potential new peace summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.

President Vladimir Putin characterized the missile as «an unparalleled weapon that no other nation has,» asserting that it boasts «unlimited range.» He also instructed the preparation of the necessary infrastructure to integrate this missile into the Russian Armed Forces.

The Moscow Times examines the capabilities of the Burevestnik and the implications of the recent test launch:

The Burevestnik is one of six strategic weapons introduced by Putin in 2018 as part of Russia’s updated nuclear arsenal. At that time, he praised it as an «invincible» weapon with virtually limitless range, designed to avoid American missile defense systems.

However, experts and analysts have raised doubts about the missile’s practicality and the advantages it offers over existing technologies.

According to Pavel Podvig, director of the Russian Nuclear Forces Project, «the Burevestnik is quite similar to other cruise missiles developed in Russia,» with its distinctive feature being its nuclear-powered engine, which allows for nearly limitless range.

The independent business outlet The Bell referred to the Burevestnik as «an exceedingly costly» weapon with «questionable practical utility.»

Podvig noted, «The main reason why such a system hasn’t been developed previously is that it’s not particularly effective. Thus, there’s no substantial justification for constructing something like this.» He also expressed skepticism about the practical applications of such a missile.

While the exact cost of the Burevestnik remains unrevealed, The Bell mentioned that it is comparable to the Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile, which costs around $10 billion.

Jeffrey Lewis, a nuclear nonproliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute, disputed the claim that the Burevestnik is «invincible,» stating that «NATO aircraft could intercept it.»

He emphasized that «the Burevestnik merely represents another phase in an arms race that offers no genuine benefit to either side,» as he commented on X.

Video footage released by the Kremlin on Sunday featured Putin in military attire next to Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, who briefed him on the Burevestnik test conducted on October 21.

Gerisimov reported that the missile flew for approximately 15 hours and covered a distance of 14,000 kilometers, adding that its maximum range is even greater.

«Throughout the flight, the missile executed all required vertical and horizontal maneuvers, demonstrating a strong ability to evade missile defense and air defense systems,» he noted.

«The technical specifications of the Burevestnik generally permit its precise use against well-protected targets at any distance,» he remarked.

The Burevestnik previously made headlines in 2019 following a reported failed test that resulted in a deadly recovery mission in the Arkhangelsk region, wherein Russia’s meteorological agency, Roshydromet, indicated that radiation levels had exceeded normal ranges by four to sixteen times after an explosion at the test site that claimed five lives.

The confirmation of this month’s Burevestnik tests followed months of satellite imagery and navigation alerts suggesting an impending launch.

On Monday, Trump criticized his Russian counterpart’s announcement regarding the nuclear-powered cruise missile test as «inappropriate,» given Washington’s attempts to negotiate a peace agreement in Ukraine.

«He should focus on ending the war [in Ukraine], a conflict that should have lasted just one week and is now approaching its fourth year. That’s what he ought to be doing instead of testing missiles,» Trump stated to reporters aboard Air Force One.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov advised reporters that «there’s nothing here that could or should ‘strain’ relations between Moscow and Washington, particularly with the current state of relations already being minimal.»

However, former Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev remarked that Moscow’s announcement of the latest Burevestnik test «was hardly coincidental.»

In an op-ed for The Moscow Times, Bondarev observed that it «strikingly coincided» with new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil companies and NATO’s Steadfast Noon nuclear exercises occurring that month.

Nonetheless, Podvig hesitated to connect the timing of the test to geopolitical events.

«These are large-scale programs involving numerous personnel and equipment,» Podvig stated. «I don’t believe they would attempt to sync the tests with any specific political developments — it’s simply too complex.»

Podvig further explained that Russia’s introduction of its nuclear modernization initiatives in 2018 was strategic.

«It was presented as a counteraction to U.S. missile defense initiatives. From the perspective of the Russian president — and likely the Russian leadership as a whole — the U.S. missile defense strategy was meant to undermine Russia’s retaliatory capabilities,» he elaborated.

He added that Russia seems to view U.S. missile defense systems as a threat to its strategic deterrent.

«The goal of the Burevestnik is to provide the Russian president with the ability to assert: ‘we possess systems that are fundamentally unaffected by your missile defenses’,» Podvig concluded.