Russia Has Tested New Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile, Putin Says

Russia has carried out a test of its Burevestnik cruise missile, a nuclear-powered weapon that Moscow has claimed possesses unlimited range and the ability to evade existing missile defenses, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin announced on Oct. 26 that “decisive tests” of the nuclear-capable weapon had been completed and said the Russian military could begin preparing the infrastructure for its deployment.

“I have received a report from the industry and I am aware of the assessments made by the Ministry of Defence—this is indeed a unique weapon that no other country possesses,” he said during a visit to a joint force command post, according to a statement released by the Kremlin.

Gen. Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s chief of the general staff, told Putin during the visit that the missile flew about 8,700 miles and spent 15 hours in the air during the test on Oct. 21.

“Unlike previous trials, this one featured a many-hour flight, with the missile covering 14,000 [kilometers], and that is not the limit,” he said, according to the statement.

Gerasimov noted that the Burevestnik missile used nuclear propulsion and that its vertical and horizontal maneuvers showed that it has a “high capability” to evade missile and air defense systems.

“Burevestnik’s technical characteristics generally allow for its use with assured accuracy against highly protected targets at any range,” he said.

Putin told Gerasimov that the Russian military must determine which class of weapons the Burevestnik fits into, assess how it might be used, and build infrastructure for its deployment.

“Obviously, substantial work has to be done in order to place this weapon on combat duty, and all regulations must be completed,” Putin said.

The Burevestnik test comes as Russia has resisted Western pressure for a cease-fire in Ukraine and Putin has strongly warned the United States to not provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles capable of hitting Russian oil facilities. Putin first unveiled Russia’s plans to develop the Burevestnik missile in 2018.

It also follows Putin’s Oct. 10 remark that Russia is “very actively” developing and testing new nuclear weapons.

The Russian leader said that efforts to develop new weapons are proceeding successfully and that Russia’s nuclear deterrent capabilities are now more advanced than those of any other nuclear power.

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Oct. 27 that Putin should be ending the war in Ukraine instead of testing the missile, noting that the United States had a nuclear submarine positioned off Russia’s coast.

When asked whether Moscow was saber rattling with the test, Trump told reporters, “It doesn’t have to go 8,000 miles.

“I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying, either, by the way: You ought to get the war ended, the war that should have taken one week is now in … its fourth year. That’s what you ought to do instead of testing missiles.”

Trump said last week that he had canceled a planned meeting with Putin in Budapest, Hungary, because negotiations to end the war in Ukraine were showing little progress. Trump told reporters on Oct. 21 that he did not want to waste time.

Washington has sought to increase pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine that has been ongoing since 2022. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Oct. 15 warned that the United States and its NATO allies will “impose costs” on Russia if it continues the war but did not elaborate on the possible measures.

Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.