Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed on Thursday that his country has successfully conducted trials on an experimental nuclear-powered missile. He also issued a warning, suggesting that Moscow might reconsider its ban on atomic bomb testing.
Speaking at a forum organized by a think tank, Putin confirmed that the testing of the Burevestnik cruise missile had recently been completed. The missile has an impressive range of up to 14,000 miles. However, he did not specify the exact date of the tests.
This announcement follows reports indicating that Russia was preparing to test this nuclear weapon in the Arctic.
The Burevestnik is classified as an extremely long-range cruise missile, differing from ballistic missiles as it remains in the atmosphere after launch. Although Putin introduced the missile in 2018, it has experienced multiple failures in previous tests.
There is limited information available regarding the missile’s capabilities. However, it is known to utilize a completely new type of weapon system, where a nuclear propulsion unit is activated after the missile is launched into the air by solid fuel rocket boosters.
In addition to the Burevestnik, Putin also announced the completion of the development of the Sarmat, an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying up to 15 nuclear warheads.
Putin outlined plans to enter mass production and deploy the Sarmat “on combat duty” in the near future.
During the event in the city of Sochi, Putin emphasized the importance of conducting tests to ensure the reliability of the new weapon systems, stating that “experts say that this is a new weapon and it is necessary to make sure that the special warhead will work without failures.”
Putin has previously made threats to deploy nuclear weapons against Western allies during the conflict in Ukraine. Furthermore, he recently relocated tactical nuclear bombs to Belarus, a close ally.
Earlier this year, Putin suspended a strategic treaty with the United States that imposed limits on the number of bombs each country could possess and required both parties to share testing details.
During the Sochi event, Putin indicated that Russia might consider disregarding the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty of 1996. He argues that the United States, who signed but never ratified the treaty, should also be held accountable for its provisions.
Notably, calls have been made to “start testing nuclear weapons” and “return to testing,” which Putin claimed to be already hearing.
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