Russia has carried out a successful test of its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, President Vladimir Putin announced on Sunday, confirming that the long-range weapon will move toward deployment.
According to Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, the missile—designated 9M730 Burevestnik and known by NATO as SSC-X-9 Skyfall—flew 14,000 kilometers over a 15-hour period during a test conducted on October 21. He said the missile operated on nuclear power and could evade any existing missile defense systems due to its range and unpredictable flight path.
Speaking at a military command center, Putin described the Burevestnik as a system that “no one else in the world has,” and said its critical testing phase had been completed. He instructed defense officials to determine its classification and prepare the necessary infrastructure for future deployment.
First unveiled by Putin in 2018, the Burevestnik has been presented as a response to the United States’ withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and its continued expansion of missile defense capabilities. The Kremlin maintains that the system gives Russia an edge in strategic deterrence.
The announcement followed a series of nuclear readiness drills last week, which included tests of Russia’s Yars and Sineva intercontinental ballistic missiles and Kh-102 air-launched cruise missiles. Putin said the overall modernization level of Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces “is at the highest level,” exceeding that of other nuclear powers.
The timing of the test, coming amid heightened tensions with the West and renewed U.S. pressure over the conflict in Ukraine, was widely interpreted as a signal of Russia’s intent to demonstrate strategic strength.
The White House has not yet commented on the test.