President Donald Trump criticized Russia’s recent test of a nuclear-powered cruise missile as “inappropriate” and warned that the United States has a nuclear submarine stationed off Russia’s coast. “They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shores, so I mean, it doesn’t have to go 8,000 miles,” Trump said. He also urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to focus on ending the war in Ukraine, now entering its fourth year.
The missile, known as the Burevestnik (Storm Petrel), reportedly completed a 15-hour flight covering 8,700 miles. General Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s chief of the general staff, highlighted the weapon’s ability to strike highly protected targets and evade missile-defense systems. Powered by a miniature nuclear reactor, the missile’s ramjet engine allows extended flight, theoretically giving it near-unlimited range.
Experts questioned the missile’s usefulness and strategic value. “The main reason that no one else has tried to build something like this is that it doesn’t really have any use,” said Pavel Podvig, senior researcher at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research. He added that the missile is “largely political,” meant to show technological capability rather than serve a practical purpose. Safety concerns persist, as a failed 2019 test in the Russian Arctic killed five scientists and released radiation.
The Kremlin maintained that the test would not strain relations with Washington. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Russia acts according to its national security interests. Analysts noted that the announcement could also be a response to recent Western sanctions and U.S. missile defense initiatives, suggesting that political signaling remains a key motivation behind the Burevestnik program.
The missile test comes amid rising tensions over the ongoing Ukraine war and global security concerns. While Russia presents the Burevestnik as a strategic advancement, analysts and Western officials continue to debate its effectiveness, safety, and the broader implications for international arms control.
