Moscow, October 26, 2025: In a dramatic show of power, Russia announced that it has successfully tested the Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile said to have unlimited range.
According to Russian defense officials, the missile flew for 15 hours, covering nearly 14,000 kilometers and effectively circled the globe before hitting its designated target. Moscow described the test as a “historic success” — showcasing technology that could, in theory, strike any target on Earth.
The Burevestnik, also known by NATO as SSC-X-9 Skyfall, has been in development for several years as part of President Vladimir Putin’s next-generation “invincible” weapons program.
However, the missile’s history has been controversial and dangerous. Multiple test failures have been reported since 2017, including a 2019 explosion at a testing site in northern Russia that killed five nuclear scientists and raised serious radiation safety concerns.
This latest test appears to signal Russia’s renewed focus on strategic deterrence amid heightened tensions with the West over the Ukraine conflict and NATO expansion. Analysts see the launch as both a technological demonstration and a political message, with one expert describing it as “a radioactive flex meant to remind the world of Moscow’s reach.”
Western defense officials have not yet independently verified the flight data, but the announcement has already sparked alarm among global security analysts, who fear a new arms race reminiscent of the Cold War era.
