Russia Tests ‘Unstoppable’ Burevestnik Nuclear Missile with Advanced Evasion Capabilities

Moscow: Russia has successfully conducted what President Vladimir Putin called the “final crucial test” of its nuclear-powered cruise missile, the 9M730 Burevestnik — a weapon Moscow claims can outfly and outmaneuver any defence system in the world. The announcement marks a significant leap in Russia’s strategic arsenal and a fresh jolt to global security watchers.

According to reports from Russia’s military command, the missile — known to NATO as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall — was test-launched on October 21, covering an astonishing 14,000 kilometres over nearly 15 hours of flight. General Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s top military officer, briefed Putin on the test, saying the missile’s nuclear reactor allowed it to sustain long-range flight and unpredictable manoeuvres that make interception “virtually impossible.”

“It’s a unique weapon that no other country possesses,” Putin said, adding that earlier doubts about its feasibility had now been “put to rest.”

The Burevestnik, or “Storm Petrel,” has been under development for several years as part of Russia’s drive to modernize its strategic forces. Unlike conventional cruise missiles, it is believed to be powered by a miniaturized nuclear reactor, giving it near-unlimited range and the ability to take unconventional routes to its target.

#Russia In tenuta militare mimetica, Putin presenta il nuovo missile a propulsione nucleare #Burevestnik: una nuova arma che definisce invincibile. Una nuova incognita nella guerra in #Ucraina e nei tentativi di mettervi fine.@LianaMistretta #GR1 pic.twitter.com/X1cSzgsodw

— Rai Radio1 (@Radio1Rai) October 27, 2025

Putin directed the Defence Ministry to classify the weapon system and prepare the necessary infrastructure for deployment, signalling that the missile could soon enter active service.

The test follows another major strategic exercise last week in which Russia launched a coordinated display of its nuclear triad — across land, sea, and air — overseen personally by Putin. “The modernity of our nuclear deterrent forces is at the highest level, higher than any other nuclear power,” he asserted.

According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia currently holds 5,459 nuclear warheads, slightly more than the United States’ 5,177, giving the two superpowers control of around 87 per cent of the world’s nuclear arsenal.

Western analysts, however, have reacted with caution. While Moscow touts the Burevestnik as an “invincible” weapon, experts point out that previous tests have been plagued by technical failures and concerns about radiation risks. Still, the latest success, if verified, would represent a historic first — the world’s only nuclear-powered cruise missile proven to operate over intercontinental distances.

As tensions spike between Russia and the West, the Burevestnik test sends a clear signal: the Kremlin is doubling down on its nuclear edge — and wants the world to take notice.

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