Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has successfully tested the Burevestnik missile, equipped with a nuclear-powered engine and capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Moscow is now exploring ways to deploy the weapon as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to drag on.
On October 26, the Kremlin released a video showing a meeting between Putin and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, reportedly held at a joint forces location. Gerasimov said the test occurred five days earlier, with the missile—referred to by NATO as Skyfall—traveling 14,000 kilometers and remaining in flight for approximately 15 hours.
The Burevestnik has been in development for over a decade and is one of several new systems Russia is focusing on as part of an unofficial arms race, primarily against the United States.
“The decisive tests are now complete,” Putin said in the video, adding that he has ordered preparations to bring this weapon into service in the Russian Armed Forces.
The announcement comes as the war in Ukraine enters its 45th month, with Russian forces making slow, incremental advances. Kyiv has urged the United States and Western allies to provide longer-range weapons, such as Tomahawk missiles, to strike deeper into Russian territory to gain leverage in the conflict and in any peace negotiations, which currently appear stalled.
Technical Details and Safety Concerns
Burevestnik operates using a small nuclear reactor integrated into its engine, theoretically allowing it to stay airborne for several days. The missile has drawn significant attention from arms control and intelligence experts due to both its technology and past test failures.
The announcement coincides with the upcoming expiration of the New START treaty, which limits U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals to 1,550 warheads and 700 launchers each. Putin recently offered to voluntarily adhere to the treaty limits for one year—a proposal U.S. President Donald Trump described as “seems like a good idea.”
A failed attempt to recover a sunken missile believed to be Burevestnik caused a radioactive explosion in a remote Russian region in 2019, killing five people, according to documents, photographs, satellite imagery, and other open-source materials reviewed by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
