Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at an awards ceremony honoring the developers of the “Burevestnik,” a nuclear-powered, unlimited-range strategic cruise missile, and the “Poseidon” unmanned underwater vehicle. The transcript was published on the Kremlin’s website.
“In terms of range, the Burevestnik, as is known, has surpassed all missile systems in the world. It has high target accuracy, which it reaches clearly and confidently at a pre-calculated time. I think foreign specialists were able to see this as well, since a NATO reconnaissance ship was constantly present in the area during the Burevestnik tests on October 21. We did not interfere with its work. Let them watch,” Putin said.
He singled out the project’s “high level of technological sophistication”: the ultra-small nuclear reactors created for the system can be started in seconds, while conventional reactors take hours or even days. According to Putin, Russia has already begun developing the next generation of nuclear-powered cruise missiles, which could ultimately become hypersonic.
“The compact size of nuclear units like those in the Burevestnik will help with mineral extraction in difficult regions. New operating principles will spur technologies that can be used on the Arctic shelf. The electronic component base can be used to create supercomputers and communications systems,” the Russian leader continued.
Speaking about Poseidon, he highlighted the complexity of creating “advanced materials, assemblies, and components that enabled high speed and deep diving - down to 1,000 meters.” He said the new underwater vehicle’s speed “is multiple times greater than that of all modern surface ships.”
He emphasized that Russia “threatens no one,” even as it openly advances its nuclear capabilities. He noted that the Sarmat heavy intercontinental missiles will enter trial combat duty in 2025 and full combat duty in 2026. “New generations of weapons are already being developed based on a nuclear power unit like the Burevestnik’s,” Putin said, announcing the start of serial production of the Oreshnik medium-range missile system.
On November 2, Russia launched the Khabarovsk submarine - a nuclear-powered cruiser capable of carrying Poseidons. Russian media reported that Khabarovsk can carry up to 12 unmanned nuclear torpedoes, meaning Poseidon systems can now strike targets anywhere in the world’s oceans.
The Kremlin’s military posture has previously drawn a response from U.S. President Donald Trump. He reminded audiences that the United States has nuclear weapons positioned near Russia. “They know that our best nuclear submarine is off their shores. So it doesn’t have to fly eight thousand miles (almost 13,000 km). And they don’t play games with us. We don’t play games with them either,” he said.
On October 30, Trump announced he had ordered the U.S. Defense Department to begin nuclear testing — for the first time in 33 years. “The U.S. has more nuclear weapons than any other country in the world,” the American president said.
On CBS News’ 60 Minutes, Trump claimed that several countries, including Russia and China, are conducting underground nuclear tests unknown to the public. He promised to follow suit: “I don’t want to be the only country that does not conduct tests.”
The Kremlin quickly responded. “We will likely need to receive some clarifications from the American side, because neither Russia nor China has resumed any nuclear testing,” said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian president.
He stressed that Moscow and Beijing insist on compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
