MOSCOW — Russia’s New Missile Test

Russia has conducted a test of a new nuclear-capable cruise missile, inching closer to potential military deployment, as President Vladimir Putin announced on Sunday. This development follows years of research and testing on the Burevestnik missile.

This announcement ties into the Kremlin’s messaging around nuclear capabilities, especially as it has resisted Western calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine. They’ve issued stern warnings to the U.S. and NATO regarding the use of long-range Western weapons for strikes inside Russia.

A video shared by the Kremlin features Putin, dressed in military fatigues, receiving updates from General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of general staff. Gerasimov reported that the Burevestnik managed to travel 14,000 kilometers (approximately 8,700 miles) in a critical test.

He noted that the missile, which is known as Skyfall in NATO terminology, was able to stay airborne for 15 hours on nuclear energy, suggesting there’s more potential beyond this achievement.

However, much about the Burevestnik remains unclear. Many Western experts express skepticism, citing concerns around the reliability of a nuclear engine. When Putin initially disclosed the weapon’s development in 2018, he claimed it would have limitless range, evading existing missile defenses.

Yet, some analysts believe this kind of missile could be challenging to manage and could also raise environmental concerns. The U.S. and the Soviet Union had explored nuclear-powered missiles during the Cold War but ultimately abandoned the efforts due to safety worries.

The Burevestnik had a disastrous incident in August 2019, experiencing an explosion during tests at a navy facility, which resulted in the death of several engineers and military personnel, raising radiation fears in a nearby area. Although Russian officials did not confirm exactly what weapon was involved, the U.S. attributed the incident to the Burevestnik.

In his discussion with Gerasimov, Putin emphasized the need to explore potential military applications and to prepare the necessary infrastructure for the missile’s deployment within the armed forces. He asserted that the missile is invulnerable to existing and future missile defense systems because of its extensive range and erratic flight path.

Kirill Dmitriev, a senior aide to Putin, mentioned that during his delegation’s meeting in the U.S., they communicated the successful testing of the Burevestnik, characterizing it as a new category of weaponry. Earlier in the week, Putin had also ordered drills involving Russia’s strategic nuclear forces, which included practice missile launches as well as a planned summit regarding Ukraine with U.S. President Donald Trump that was subsequently postponed.

The Kremlin reported that these military exercises involved the entirety of Russia’s nuclear triad, highlighting the test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles from platforms in northwestern Russia and operations from a submarine in the Barents Sea, along with Tu-95 strategic bombers executing long-range missile strikes.

These drills aimed to assess the effectiveness of military command structures, according to the Kremlin’s statement.