Russia has announced the successful test of its nuclear-powered cruise missile Burevestnik, which reportedly flew 14,000 kilometres over 15 hours during a trial conducted on 21 October 2025.
Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov said the missile completed all planned manoeuvres and demonstrated a strong ability to evade air-defence systems, adding that the range and flight time achieved during the test were not necessarily the weapon’s limits. The Burevestnik is driven by a small onboard nuclear reactor, a design that theoretically gives it an effectively unlimited range and the ability to carry a nuclear warhead while following unpredictable flight paths.
The system has raised alarm because of the potential radiological risks associated with a nuclear-powered vehicle; it has sometimes been dubbed the “flying Chernobyl” in press coverage.
