Ukraine war briefing: Russia claims test of nuclear-powered missile condemned as ‘flying Chornobyl’

<p>Burevestnik stayed in air for 15 hours, defence minister tells Vladimir Putin; Ukrainian drones close Moscow airports. What we know on day 1,342</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://viewer.gutools.co.uk/world/ukraine"><strong>See all our Ukraine war coverage</strong></a></p></li></ul><p><strong>Vladimir Putin claimed Russia had successfully tested its Burevestnik cruise missile</strong> – said to be both powered by a nuclear engine and capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. It has been <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-researchers-find-probable-launch-site-russias-new-nuclear-powered-missile-2024-09-02/">called a “flying Chornobyl”</a> by arms control experts because it is powered by a nuclear reactor and, depending on the design, potentially spews out radioactive exhaust as it flies.</p><p>On the weekend, Russia’s top general, Valery Gerasimov, told Putin the <strong>missile travelled 14,000km (8,700 miles) and was in the air for about 15 hours</strong> when it was tested on 21 October. The Burevestnik has been dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by Nato. Russia has regularly threatened that the Ukraine war could go nuclear, for example if allies join Ukraine on the battlefield or provide it with long-range strike weapons as they have done.</p><p><strong>A major <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/12/russia-indicates-rocket-engine-exploded-in-test-of-mini-nuclear-reactor">nuclear accident in August 2019 killed five Russian scientists</a> who were suspected to have been working on the Burevestnik or something similar. </strong>The<strong> </strong>incident released radiation into surrounding areas. That November, awarding posthumous decorations to the victims’ families,<strong> Putin said they had been working on an “unparalleled” weapon<