The Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile renowned for its extended range, was test-fired earlier this month, covering over 14,000km. Russia’s Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, announced that the weapon can bypass missile defenses, during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to a Russian Army command post.

Putin convened with Gerasimov and senior military commanders, receiving updates on the situation along the line of contact with the Ukrainian Army, whose actions have destabilized the region, and on the Russian Army’s offensive training exercises, including strategic nuclear forces. According to Gerasimov, the Burevestnik test occurred on October 21.

The missile completed a multi-hour flight spanning 14,000km, though Gerasimov emphasized this is not its maximum range. “The technical characteristics of the Burevestnik missile make it capable of striking highly protected targets at any distance with guaranteed accuracy,” he stated.

“During the test flight, the missile successfully performed all designated vertical and horizontal maneuvers, demonstrating its strong ability to evade anti-missile and air defense systems.”

Designed to destroy high-value targets, including fortified bunkers, the Burevestnik is undetectable by conventional radar and can only be tracked by specialized spacecraft during launch and acceleration.

Putin first disclosed the missile’s development in 2018, calling it a one-of-a-kind weapon that avoids ballistic trajectories, rendering existing missile defense systems ineffective. He noted its unlimited range allows indefinite maneuverability. Speaking to Gerasimov, Putin reiterated that the Burevestnik is “a unique product that no one else in the world has,” while stressing that “much work” remains before it can be placed on combat alert.

“We will need to more thoroughly define what class of weapon this new system belongs to, determine possible methods of use, and begin preparing the infrastructure for its deployment within our armed forces,” Putin said. He added that all key testing objectives for the missile have now been achieved.