(Moscow/Kyiv) Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the completion of final testing of the new nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik, with a range of 14,000 kilometers, and praised the weapon's unique capabilities.
Interfax reported on Sunday (October 26) that Putin inspected the Russian Armed Forces' command center and held meetings with Chief of General Staff Gerasimov and relevant units involved in military operations in Ukraine.
According to a video released by the Kremlin that day, during his meeting with the military, Putin stated that the decisive testing of the Burevestnik missile had been completed, calling it "a unique creation in the world" with "unlimited range."
He ordered preparations for the weapon's deployment to the Russian military's infrastructure.
Gerasimov revealed that during the final test launch on Tuesday (October 21st), the Burevestnik missile reached a range of 14,000 kilometers within 15 hours, and that this was not its upper limit. He said, "The Haiyan missile's technical characteristics enable it to accurately strike highly protected targets at any distance."
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Putin announced the Russian military's development of the missile in 2018, claiming it had unlimited range and could penetrate U.S. missile defenses.
However, some Western experts have questioned the strategic value of the Petrel missile, arguing it would not enhance Russia's military capabilities and that its flight path could leak radiation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that during the military meeting, all participants briefed Putin in detail on the war situation.
The Russia-Ukraine war has raged for over three and a half years, and the peace process brokered by US President Trump has made no concrete progress. Russian forces continue to launch heavy airstrikes in Ukraine.
Russian drone strikes in Kyiv kill three, injure 31
A Russian drone strike in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Saturday night (25th) killed three people and injured 31 others, including six children.
The Russian attack destroyed two high-rise apartment buildings and caused fires. Air raid sirens were in effect for about an hour and a half in Kyiv and surrounding areas until 00:30 GMT (8:30 a.m. Singapore time) on Sunday.
The Ukrainian military said that Russia launched 101 drones into Ukraine that night, 90 of which were shot down.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that over the past seven days, Russia has dispatched nearly 1,200 attack drones, over 1,360 guided aerial bombs, and more than 50 missiles of various types to Ukraine. Each Russian attack aims to inflict maximum damage on ordinary people's lives. He called for additional tariffs and sanctions against Russia and its allies.
