In camouflage: Vladimir Putin announces the completion of the new Burevestnik cruise missile.Image: keystone
A nuclear-powered cruise missile called the Petrel is the latest Russian weapon creation. According to the Kremlin, it was recently successfully tested. However, experts question the benefits and quality of Putin’s prestige project.
October 28, 2025, 08:02October 28, 2025, 08:22
The Russian president proudly described his country’s latest weapon creation as a “unique product that no one else in the world has,” in a video that the Kremlin recently distributed.
“Burevestnik,” or “petrel” in German, is the name of the new, nuclear-powered cruise missile that can theoretically fly unlimited distances thanks to a built-in mini-reactor. According to Russian Chief of General Staff Valeriy Gerasimov, during a test on October 21, the “petrel” was in the air for 15 hours straight and flew 14,000 kilometers.
Putin has Valeriy Gerasimov explain details about Burevestnik to him.Image: keystone
What initially sounds very threatening only partially convinces Western experts. So says rocket expert Markus Schiller, who researches at the Swedish peace research institute Sipri and trains members of the German army, to the news magazine MirrorBurewestnik is “by no means a game changer”.
This is for several reasons. On the one hand, Russia already has a considerable arsenal of conventional intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are also much faster than the Burevestnik. Their range is limited, but they could also cover a distance like the one the Burevestnik successfully completed in the test – thanks to supersonic speed in 30 minutes instead of 15 hours.
On the other hand, nuclear-powered missiles are considered a security risk. Radioactive material can escape and contaminate areas not only when launched by defense systems, but also in the event of mishaps – possibly areas that are not on the sender’s target list.
Russia can tell a thing or two about this: in 2019, during the production of Burevestnik, there was a serious incident with five deaths. An explosion occurred during a failed test of the supposed miracle weapon in northwest Russia. Increased radiation levels were then measured in the region.
The US decided not to develop long-range nuclear-powered missiles in the 1950s because of their unsafe operation, says William Alberque, former NATO director for arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. He therefore describes the Burewestnik as a “flying Chernobyl”.
Even if the Russians managed to operate the nuclear drive without any problems, the military added value is questionable in Alberque’s assessment – especially because the system is so slow. He therefore refers to the Burevestnik as opposed to the Daily Gazette as “one of the stupidest systems you can imagine”.
According to Alberque, the fact that Putin stuck to the development of the prestigious project, which was first announced in 2016, cannot be justified rationally.
“The only use I can think of is psychology, propaganda.”
For a weapon system that can be touted as a “nuclear-powered cruise missile with unlimited range,” the “fear factor in the West is high.”
Rocket expert Markus Schiller also sees no military added value in the “Burewestnik”. Although it cannot be ruled out that Russia will make some of these missiles operational and add them to its arsenal, it is also possible that sooner or later Putin’s new miracle weapon will “disappear without a sound.” (con)