Russia Announces Successful Test of Nuclear-Powered Burevestnik Missile Amid Rising Global Tensions

Russia says it has successfully tested the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, with Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov reporting a multi-hour flight that covered about 14,000 km and lasted roughly 15 hours. The experimental weapon, dubbed Skyfall by NATO, is described by Russian officials as a low-flying, nuclear-propelled cruise missile with near-unlimited range and advanced manoeuvring abilities intended to evade modern missile defences.

While Moscow claims the test demonstrated the missile’s vertical and horizontal manoeuvrability and its capability to bypass air- and missile-defence systems, independent analysts and Western experts remain skeptical. Observers point to numerous flight-test failures since the program’s public debut in 2018, serious technical hurdles for a nuclear-propulsion unit, and at least one accident with fatalities that raise doubts about operational viability. Reports from the IISS and other defence analysts note that reliable performance of the reactor-powered propulsion remains a major obstacle to deployment.

Russian publications and military sources say the Burevestnik could reach intercontinental ranges—estimates range from 10,000 to 20,000 km—potentially allowing launches from within Russia to strike distant targets, including across the continental United States. The missile is reportedly boosted into flight by solid-fuel rockets before a compact nuclear reactor is intended to sustain long-endurance cruise performance at low altitude, a tactic that would complicate detection and interception.

Despite Kremlin assertions of progress, independent verification of Russian test claims has been limited, and arms-control watchdogs remain cautious. Satellite imagery and investigative reporting have previously identified suspected test and launch facilities linked to the program, but experts emphasize that technical, safety, and strategic questions must be resolved before the Burevestnik can be judged a reliable addition to Russia’s arsenal.