Putin Announces Successful Test of Nuclear Powered Cruise Missile

Russia has held a “final successful test” of a nuclear-powered cruise missile.

President Vladimir Putin announced the test after his spokesman rejected a New York Times report that testing of the weapon, known as the Burevestnik, was imminent.

Mr. Putin addressing a meeting in the black sea resort of Sochi, Mr. Putin, added that Burevestnik is a global-range nuclear-powered cruise missile.

The experimental weapon, first announced in 2018, has been hailed as having a potentially unlimited range.

It is said to be powered by a nuclear reactor and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

Satellite images circulated last month indicated that Russia had recently built new facilities at a remote arctic island location where soviet nuclear tests were previously conducted.

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Mr. Putin also told his audience that work was almost complete on an intercontinental ballistic missile, called Sarmat.

But the New York Times quoted an arms control campaign group, the nuclear threat initiative, as saying that the previous known 13 tests of the system between 2017 and 2019 were all unsuccessful.

The president also commented on Russia-Japan relations, which have deteriorated after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Putin said, “It is not Russia that imposed sanctions on Japan or closed its window to the country. Japan did that.”

Putin went on to say, “If the Japanese side takes some kind of initiative to resume dialogue, it would be good.” He added he is prepared to hold talks if Japan was willing.

Putin also spoke about the plane crash in August that killed former Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. He said, “Fragments of hand grenades were found in the bodies of those killed in the crash.” He added, “There was no external impact on the plane.”

Putin said, “This is an established fact,” saying the investigative committee reported to him a few days ago.