Russia has successfully tested its nuclear-powered cruise missile “Burevestnik”. According to President Vladimir Putin, this missile can penetrate any existing or future defense system. In this test conducted on October 21, the missile covered a distance of about 14,000 kilometers and remained in the air for about 15 hours. Russian Army Chief of Staff General Valery Gerasimov told Putin that the missile is almost “invincible” because its path is unpredictable and its flight range is almost limitless. NATO recognizes it by the name SSC-X-9 Skyfall.
Let us tell you that Putin said in the meeting with senior army officers, “This is a weapon which no one in the whole world has. We have made the impossible possible.” He indicated that Russia will now move towards its actual deployment. If seen, this announcement has been made at a time when the Russia-Ukraine war has entered its third year and Western countries, especially US President Donald Trump, are adopting a strategy to put new pressure on Russia.
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There is no doubt that Russia’s announcement is not only a technological achievement, but also a strategic message to the West that Moscow is still the central pillar of the global balance of power and is “not going to bend” despite war fatigue or economic sanctions. Let us remind you that Putin announced the Burevestnik project in 2018. At that time he presented it as a counter to America’s missile-defense system. The US missile defense system was developed rapidly after Washington withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
Russia argues that the purpose of the US missile-framework is to achieve strategic advantage, not just ‘defense’. Weapons like the Burevestnik are the answer to this “strategic asymmetry.” Due to its almost infinite distance and uncertain path, this missile is considered almost undetectable by conventional radar or anti-missile systems.
The special thing is that the test was announced by Putin, in military uniform, during a meeting to review war operations. This visual symbol was a message in itself. This signaled to the West that Russia still does not accept any decline in its military confidence. This timing is also not a coincidence. At a time when the US is pressurizing Russia for a ceasefire by adopting a tough stance, this announcement is a demonstration of Moscow’s “unwavering determination”.
At the same time, the successful test of Burevestnik is a deep warning to the global nuclear strategy. This missile opens a new page in the silent chapter of the nuclear arms race. There is already a hypersonic and tactical nuclear weapons competition between the US, NATO and Russia; Now the entry of this new category will make the security equations more complex. It’s also worth noting that Moscow has used nuclear signals several times during the Russia-Ukraine war—be it the deployment of strategic weapons in Belarus or threats surrounding the Zaporizhia nuclear plant. The successful test of Burevestnik further strengthens this strategic psychology.
Moreover, with this test Russia is directly challenging the Western security structure. America’s “Missile Shield” is active in many parts of Europe and Asia like Poland, Romania, Japan and South Korea. But if missiles like the Burevestnik truly have “infinite range” and “indefinite trajectory,” then all of these frameworks may be irrelevant. The direct result of this would be a new arms race and possibly the return of a new Cold War-like atmosphere.
This incident is important for India from a dual perspective. First, it shows that the global balance of power is again tilting towards the east. The rapid progress in military technology of Russia and China is causing concern for the West. Second, India will have to further strengthen its strategic autonomy and self-reliance in the field of defense technology. Because if the nuclear weapons competition intensifies again, Asia could become its main battlefield.
Moreover, Putin’s announcement is not just a technical or strategic victory, but also a psychological victory. Amid economic sanctions, a stagnant front in Ukraine and internal discontent, this type of demonstration is also beneficial for domestic politics. This sends a message to the Russian public that despite the Western blockade, Russia is still a “first-class world power.”
Overall, Russia’s Burevestnik test is reminiscent of the era when every new missile test became a matter of global concern in the midst of the Cold War. This new technology is not only a symbol of the power of a country, but also a symbol of the international insecurity that is re-emerging today.
However, this announcement during the Ukraine war sends a clear message that Moscow is neither willing to bow down militarily, nor to limit its strategic decisions under Western pressure. It is time for the world community to exercise vigilance because if the superpowers start solving their disputes again in the “language of weapons”, the security architecture of the coming decade could become even more unstable.