Putin Confirms Final Test of Global-Range Nuclear Missile
Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, has confirmed that his country has successfully completed the final test of its nuclear-powered cruise missile, Burevestnik, a weapon he described as capable of reaching any target in the world.
In a video released by the Kremlin during a meeting with senior military officials on Sunday, Putin announced that the missile’s “decisive tests are now complete,” directing the immediate preparation of infrastructure to enable its deployment within the Russian Armed Forces.
According to him, the Burevestnik is “a unique creation that no one else in the world possesses,” boasting an “unlimited range.”
Russia’s Chief of General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, revealed that the missile flew for about 15 hours during its last test on October 21, covering approximately 14,000 kilometres (8,700 miles) — a range that he said was still not its maximum capability.
Gerasimov emphasized that the missile’s design enables it to strike “highly protected targets at any distance with guaranteed precision.”
The Burevestnik project was first unveiled by Putin in 2018 as part of Moscow’s efforts to counter perceived threats from the United States. At the time, he claimed the missile could evade all existing defence systems.
Seven years later, the announcement of its successful final test comes amid Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine, where its forces continue to make gradual but costly advances.
Meanwhile, peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv remain stalled, despite mediation attempts by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had vowed to end the war swiftly if re-elected.
Just last week, Trump imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, lamenting that his talks with Putin “don’t go anywhere.” He later downplayed the possibility of a new summit with the Russian leader, saying he was “not going to be wasting my time.”
Putin, however, maintained that Russia will not be pressured into setting a timeline for ending the war.
“We are not going to align anything with any dates or events… we will base our actions on military rationality,” he stated.
While both nations exchange diplomatic and military maneuvers, fresh hostilities continue. Overnight drone attacks on Kyiv reportedly left three people dead and dozens injured, according to the city’s mayor. In Russia’s Belgorod region, a Ukrainian drone strike also killed one person and wounded another, local authorities confirmed.
