10/26/2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia has successfully test-launched the 9M730 Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile NATO refers to as “Skyfall.”
During a visit to a military command post, Putin described the missile as a “weapon of unlimited range powered by a nuclear engine,” claiming it represents a major breakthrough in nuclear technology and will soon be ready for deployment. “It’s a truly unique system — one no other country in the world possesses,” he said, calling the Burevestnik “invincible” against existing and future missile defence systems.
According to General Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s top army commander, the missile travelled 14,000 kilometres over 15 hours during its latest test. Measuring about 12 metres in length, the Burevestnik is reportedly capable of carrying a thermonuclear warhead and designed for intercontinental missions.
Nicknamed the “Flying Chernobyl” by Western analysts, the missile has drawn strong criticism for its potential environmental and safety hazards due to its nuclear propulsion system. Former U.S. State Department official Thomas Countryman once called it “a uniquely stupid weapon system,” warning that it poses “more threat to Russia than to any other country” because of the radioactive trail it could leave behind.
Development of the Burevestnik has faced repeated challenges, including technical failures and deadly accidents. The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) reports at least 13 test attempts since 2016, with only two partial successes. One of the most serious incidents occurred in 2019, when a prototype exploded during recovery operations, killing several engineers and releasing radiation.
Despite these setbacks, Putin insisted the missile is now in its final development phase and will soon be ready for frontline deployment. It is one of six “super weapons” Russia first unveiled in 2018, alongside the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, Zircon and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, the Avangard glide vehicle, and the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone.
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https://diasporaglitzmagazine.com/putin-tests-new-nuclear-powered-missile-with-invisible-capabilities-and-unlimited-range/