Reuters, citing U.S. analysts and a Western security source, reports that Russia might be preparing a test of a nuclear-powered, dual-propulsion cruise missile as President Vladimir Putin readies to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday to discuss Ukraine. Satellite imagery from August 7, 2025, shows unusual activity at the Pankovo test site on Yuzhny Island in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, indicating logistical movements consistent with previous tests of such weapons.
Experts Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute and Decker Eveleth from CNA independently assessed the imagery, noting deployment of equipment and significant on-site operations. While Moscow has not confirmed the activity, patterns resemble previous Burevestnik (SSC-X-9 Skyfall) missile tests.
The 9M730 Burevestnik is a nuclear-powered cruise missile featuring a solid-fuel booster for launch and a jet engine heated by a nuclear reactor, theoretically granting near-unlimited range. Designed for low-altitude, unpredictable flight paths to evade radar, it carries a thermonuclear warhead. Compared to the Kh-101, it has a larger mass, unique wing placement, and reactor-related protrusions, making it incompatible with existing strategic bombers. Russia positions it as a strategic deterrent capable of bypassing current missile defense systems.
Despite its ambitions, the Burevestnik has a troubled test history, with at least thirteen trials since 2016 and only two partial successes. Incidents like the August 2019 Nyonoksa accident, which caused a radioactive leak and killed five scientists, highlight environmental and technical risks. Still, Russia continues development to counter U.S. and allied missile defenses.
The potential test immediately before high-level talks may serve as a signal of strategic resolve or a demonstration of technical capability. Analysts note this occurs amid broader modernization of Russia’s strategic arsenal and the decline of arms control agreements, such as the INF Treaty, giving Moscow more latitude to pursue advanced missile systems.
Evidence from satellite imagery, the Pankovo site’s history, and the diplomatic timeline together suggest a Burevestnik test could be imminent, potentially influencing both international perception and ongoing negotiations with the United States.
