Russian President Vladimir Putin, on October 26, hailed a breakthrough in military technology after the successful test of a nuclear-powered cruise missile, said to have an “unlimited” range and the ability to evade any existing or future defense systems.
General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of Russia’s General Staff, told Putin the 9M730 Burevestnik known by NATO as SSC-X-9 Skyfall had flown for 15 hours, covering more than 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) during its latest test on October 21.
“This weapon is unique,” Putin said in remarks broadcast by the Kremlin. “It requires classification and the creation of deployment infrastructure, but it represents a new level of strategic capability.”
Russian officials have described the Burevestnik as “invincible,” boasting that its nuclear propulsion allows for unpredictable flight paths and near-limitless range, potentially circling the globe before striking its target.
Russia Tests Missiles Amid Rising Tensions
The missile test came just days after a Budapest peace summit initially proposed by US President Donald Trump to address the war in Ukraine collapsed.
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Washington responded by slapping new sanctions on Russia’s top oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, and reigniting talks about supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Together, these companies account for nearly half of Russia’s oil exports, approximately 2.2 million barrels per day. Oil and gas revenues from these exports make up about a quarter of the Russian federal budget.
The US Treasury Department also indicated that it is prepared to take further action, urging Moscow to immediately agree to a ceasefire in the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Putin has warned that any US move to place Tomahawks in Ukrainian territory would be viewed as a major escalation.
In the same briefing, Gerasimov claimed Russian forces had encircled the city of Kupyansk in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, a statement Kyiv dismissed.
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Ukraine’s General Staff said its troops were “holding firm,” repelling intensified Russian assaults in the area.
Ukraine Still Under Attack
In Kyiv, at least three civilians were killed in overnight strikes, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians.
“Every Russian strike is an attempt to inflict as much damage as possible on ordinary life,” Zelenskiy said on X.
“This week they’ve struck residential buildings, children, and civilian infrastructure, those are Russia’s main targets.”
Burevestnik test shows Moscow’s determination to project power and technological superiority amid deepening isolation.
If operational, the weapon could alter the global balance of deterrence, but it also raises fears of nuclear brinkmanship.
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