Russia conducted tests of the cruise missile 'Burevestnik' in Novaya Zemlya last week, Reuters reports, citing data from Norwegian military intelligence. Putin had previously announced the tests.
Norway has confirmed the testing of the Russian cruise missile of unlimited range 'Burevestnik' with a nuclear power system, as previously stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian missile 'Burevestnik' was launched last week from the archipelago of Novaya Zemlya in the Barents Sea, Reuters reported on Monday, October 27, citing data from the Norwegian Military Intelligence Service.
"We can confirm that Russia conducted a new test launch of the long-range cruise missile Skyfall ('Burevestnik') in Novaya Zemlya," said Vice Admiral Nils Andreas Stensønes, head of the intelligence service, to Reuters.
Earlier, there had been no independent confirmations of the Russian president's words or comments from Western military officials regarding the test launches of the 'Burevestnik'.
Putin Announced Tests of 'Burevestnik'
The day before, a statement from Putin regarding the exercises of strategic offensive forces was published on the Kremlin's website, during which it was allegedly stated that "training combat launches of all three components of the strategic nuclear forces were carried out" and "promising weapon samples" were tested - the unlimited range cruise missile 'Burevestnik' with a nuclear power system. Putin called 'Burevestnik' a unique development and announced plans to "determine possible ways" of its application.
In turn, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Valery Gerasimov, stated that the 'Burevestnik' test took place on October 21, the missile covered 14,000 km and was in the air for about 15 hours. "The technical characteristics of the missile allow it to be used with guaranteed accuracy against highly protected targets at any distance," Gerasimov claimed.
U.S. President Donald Trump called this statement "inappropriate." Instead, Putin "should put an end to the war" against Ukraine, he stated. "The war that was supposed to last a week has been going on for the fourth year now. This is what he should be focused on, not testing missiles," Trump added, reminding about the movements of American nuclear submarines.
'Burevestnik' Has Been in Development for Over 10 Years
The 'Burevestnik' missile, referred to as Skyfall by NATO, has been in development for over 10 years. Russian military officials claim that it is powered by a small nuclear reactor embedded in the engine, which theoretically allows it to stay in the air for several days. According to a 2019 report by the Washington Nuclear Threat Initiative, Skyfall "will carry a nuclear warhead, circle the globe at low altitude, evade missile defense systems, and follow the terrain, then drop the warhead in an unpredictable location."
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