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Putin says Russia successfully tested new nuclear-capable cruise missile

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - OCTOBER 23 (RUSSIA OUT) Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during the meeting of the Presidential Council for the Implementation of State Demographic and Family Policy, on October 23, 2025 in Moscow, Russia. The U.S. Treasury and t
Vladimir Putin called the missile a 'unique creation that no one else in the world possesses'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a successful final test of a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik, praising the "unique" nuclear-capable weapon with a range of up to 14,000km.

"The decisive tests are now complete," Putin, who is waging an offensive in neighbouring Ukraine, said in a video released by the Kremlin during a meeting with military officials.

He ordered the preparation of "infrastructure to put this weapon into service in the Russian armed forces."

Mr Putin called the missile a "unique creation that no one else in the world possesses", adding that the Burevestnik has "unlimited range".

During the last test on 21 October, the missile spent "about 15 hours" flying 14,000km, said Russia's military chief of staff Valery Gerasimov, adding that this was not the upper limit for the weapon.

"The technical characteristics of the Burevestnik allow it to be used with guaranteed precision against highly protected sites located at any distance," he said.

Mr Putin announced the Russian military's development of the missiles in 2018.